Technology has been gathering information on us since it was invented. From the invention of the computer, to the newest biometric systems built into one’s phone, technology is reading our movements on a daily basis. Not only is it reading our movement, but it is slowly sucking us of our individuality. This is evident when looking at social media platforms and profiles. All of our information is on these platforms allowing whomever to view us. To look deeply at this case, when interacting with someone in person, one can feel the lack of self. Technology has taken all of that self and hidden it in code and alga-rhythms. Therefore, the Neo-individualist movement came about out of protest in order to gain that individuality back from which technology has taken from us. This is not to say we will take the information back and delete it from cyber space, it is to say that our pure individualism will be expressed and felt through this movement. This a movement that is open to whoever feels the need to express their feelings and authority against what technology has done to our individuality, and create a more human based connection between one another; viewer and artist.
The Neo-Individual movement has investigated the primary theme of how we as humans experience art, and that is through feeling and question. Therefore, the artworks that come out of Neo-Individualism provoke feeling and raise questions about what it means to be human now, what it means to feel and how it feels to be an individual again. The Neo-individualist movement praises the individual inside everyone, and wishes to bring that individual out in people. To look back on the history of art, there was a time where indiviualism was seen through art making and within the art world, but since consumer culture came about, the art world along with the rest of the world has become more part of a collective controlled society, submitting to authorities and consuming life mindlessly.
One could say the goals of the Neo-individualist movement is the raise the human condition. The modern human condition, at this point in time, is in need of more human interaction with feeling and truth. Therefore, the Neo-individualist movement executes these interactions through their art making.
Artworks that come out of Neo-individualism are mainly performance based artworks. Lasting for only a moment in time, pure self expression and question come up within these performances. Some performances will take place within a controlled space, whereas others will be intervention performances, taking place in public and open spaces. This movement will not only perform, but also create environments for displaying their work in which viewers can become involved in the space. Creating spaces for displaying work and hosting performances creating a sense of nowness and presence is a key theme for the artists.
Neo-individual art can belong in a gallery space, however it normally belongs in public spaces for short periods of time. Basing the artworks around performance and intervention, Neo-individual artists tend to record their work.
Getting in touch with the individual self through art making is felt through the artist making the work and the viewer experiencing the work. Often, these artworks are interactive and involve the viewer in a way that makes them part of the art, where they can question the art themselves, as well as feel the meaning of the art. Neo-individualism does not wish to create illusions of reality through distortion of reality, it wishes to create true reality between people. True reality is subjective, thus Neo-individualism wishes to demonstrate this through questioning the reality we are in now, a technology driven reality.
To demonstrate a particular artwork coming from the Neo-individual movement, one might look at a performance by Neo-individualist artist Dom de Villiers. Inspired by former Neo-Individualist artist Nazeer Jappies, Within Arms Reach, a silent interactive performance, Dom de Villiers has created an interactive performance as well. Hear Now is a performance, originally performed in the CBD in Cape Town, but has made appearance in the Smith Gallery too. This performance demonstrates vulnerability, inquisitiveness and love.
The artist is hidden in a large square box, with only one hole at the front of the box, allowing them to speak out of. An introduction to the work is placed next to the box, so the viewers are aware of what is happening. The intention behind this work is to create a comfortable vulnerable space with a stranger, thus evoking a feeling of connection between oneself and someone you cannot see. The piece begins with with artist stating their greatest desires and longings. The performance goes on to the artist stating their confessions and sins they have made. The viewer, at anytime is allowed to intervene by asking questions or stating their confessions or desires. Towards the end, the viewer and the artist could be having a conversation, a laugh, a cry. Regardless of the outcomes, the viewer and artist have shared a deep insightful moment exploring someones individual self. Hear Now, puts one into the present moment, just for a little bit, to share stories, memories or just some time with someone who may or may not be real. By leaving the artist hidden, the viewer can create their own version of the artist in order to feel comfortable enough to share their thoughts with. Again, the viewer may choose to just listen to the artist, which is powerful in itself. To just listen to someone is an important part of connecting to someone.
Thus, this piece is demonstrated in public or in a gallery, bringing people together, hearing each other and feeling that vulnerable individual self that we have come to lose since technology has created a force field around ourselves, hiding ourselves from ourselves.
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