As a longstanding component of mainstream ideology, essentialism posits that objects, concepts, or individuals possess an unchanging and transcendent essence that defines their identity. However, a closer examination of our reality reveals that such entities have a multiplicity of ways of being that cannot be reduced to a fixed essence. This realization challenges the very foundation of essentialist thought and invites us to rethink our assumptions about identity and the world around us.
In the mainstream narrative, we are often presented with a false dichotomy of human nature, one that reduces us to either selfish, greedy, and animalistic beings or cooperative, compassionate, and altruistic ones. Similarly, we are presented with a limited set of options for how we should live our lives, be it in terms of diet, interests, or spirituality. This oversimplified view of the world has historically been used to justify oppressive systems of institutional domination, where individuals are reduced to their most basic characteristics and subjugated accordingly.
Drawing on the philosophy of Gilles Deleuze, my work seeks to challenge this essentialist worldview and to explore the multiplicity of ways in which we can exist and interact with the world. Deleuze's concept of the "virtual" emphasizes the potentiality and indeterminacy of reality, highlighting the many possible ways in which things can be. By breaking away from essentialism, we can embrace this virtual realm and imagine new possibilities for ourselves and our society.
In this collaborative performance piece, titled "Breaking Ties," I seek to question the mainstream definition of the human experience and propose that there are multiple ways of existing that are not reducible to a simple binary. We can reject the false dichotomy of diet, secular vs. spiritual, materialism vs. idealism, and individual vs. collective, and instead, embrace the many possible ways of being. Through my art, I aim to inspire viewers to rethink their assumptions and imagine new ways of being and interacting with the world.
This piece also touches on the importance of recognizing our shared humanity and embracing our common experiences of suffering, rejection, lust, and loss, as well as our capacity for love, acceptance, mutualism, and understanding, despite differences in ideology and culture. By acknowledging the diversity of ways in which individuals choose to live their lives, we can strive towards building a society that promotes individual autonomy and personal fulfillment. A decentralized society that respects and values individual differences could provide the necessary framework for people to live according to their own meaning, paving the way for a more harmonious and inclusive world.
While there are various ways to interpret our intentions, Fish and I intentionally infused our work with ambiguity and contention that would invoke conversation. Through the physical performance, we aimed to depict the archetypal process of severing ties with a particular person, thought pattern, or mode of interaction, in favor of a mutual alternative. The performance embodied this universal struggle, inviting viewers to reflect on their own experiences and consider the various meanings that could be extracted from the piece.
Working with Fish was an incredible experience and a pleasure. Despite our differences in life experiences, personal philosophies, and artistic visions, we both saw this project as simply an exploration of various ideas– a perspective that I value most in the art world.
