#dustinlyon

[annafcsmith]

ULTRA – A State of Mind.

Dustin Lyon and Anna FC Smith

The Old Courts, Wigan.  24th June - 7th July 2017

  The idea for ULTRA came out of conversations between Lyon and Smith about the multiple recent political upheavals. They had both witnessed an increase in online political discourse and what they saw to be an animosity and polarisation between groups. They decided to attempt to ‘fix’ current issues by creating a radical new form of society.

 ULTRA inverts the hierarchical social pyramid. It is an upended meritocracy, where those with knowledge and skills become willing servants to society. It is not a democracy but a ‘Panrationalistic merito-servitude’. The system supports the majority of people, recognising apathy or political fatigue as a valid position. It puts weight on engagement in the community and the earth.

 Lyon and Smith are being playful with their invention but it has serious undertones. ULTRA nods towards dystopian novels and real life political philosophies. The key drives for certain decisions are in direct response to contemporary discussions. ULTRA has hints of populism and dictatorships, Arcadia and pastoralism, and post-depression back to the land movements. It also mirrors some aspects of communism and its "dictatorship of the proletariat", but ideology is only in ULTRA’s outward goals and not in its methodology for achieving them. ULTRA collides pragmatic rationalism and logic with more holistic and earthy desires.

 The exhibition takes the form of a conference for the ‘Savant’ – the wise class of ULTRA who form the ‘government’ or as ULTRA would say ‘Servement’. The items on display are all made to give the viewer hints as to how ULTRA would function and to spark debates about how successful such a society could actually be. Feel free to pick papers up to read. ULTRA merchandise is available to buy.

 Massive thanks due to:

Museum of Wigan Life (for the loaning of tables and equipment)

Joy Smith (for ideas and the fictional essay on Ultrhea – A Symbol of State)

Liz Chapman (for many things including making many of our folk items)

Michael Orrell (for many things including driving and photography)

Paula Fenwick- Lucas (for loans and ideas)

Dustin Lyon:

http://gettingintodeath.tumblr.com/

[e2cthemovement]

[nayson-13]

In search of trying to find myself, I made a discovery that would ultimately change the way I view the trials and tribulations that've had to come up against. Sometimes you have to make the decision to stop fighting with your demons, and instead choose to start fighting with my demons. At first glance your demons may seem overwhelming, they may seem like more than you can handle, but at second glance you'll realize all the demons you've had to face up until this point are part of the reason why you are who you are now.

[nayson-13]

In search of trying to find myself, I made a discovery that would ultimately change the way I view the trials and tribulations that've had to come up against. Sometimes you have to make the decision to stop fighting with your demons, and instead choose to start fighting WITH your demons. At first glance your demons may seem overwhelming, they may seem like more than you can handle, but at second glance you'll realize all the demons you've had to face up until this point are part of the reason why you are who you are now.