| DANIEL MCKERNAN. | VIDEOS - THE CHARACTER PROJECT or THE PROJECTED CHARACTER - SWITCH DOCTOR: A SELF REFLECTION - THE SHIVERING SANDS - AN HOMAGE TO THE LAST CASTRATO |
| THE CHARACTER PROJECT or THE PROJECTED CHARACTER -- A collaboration with Shanon Quan who
is currently performing in a play utilizing some of the same
techniques--mental and technological--used within this video piece. House of No
More is a production of the Big Art Group in New York City at
P.S. 122, which was recently
reviewed by the Village
Voice. Download THE CHARACTER
PROJECT: 28.8MB |  |
| In THE
CHARACTER PROJECT (or THE PROJECTED CHARACTER), I am showing a divide
between the ego and the id. The subject of the piece, Shanon Quan, was
left alone in a room to act out the four basic emotions: anger,
happiness, fear and sadness. Upon completion of this emotional
catharsis, the project was paused for two weeks. After allowing
emotional recuperation, the subject was brought back into the room and
forced to watch his raw emotional states projected back onto him and on
display on various different screens around the room while others were
present. The results were quite interesting, for when he sees himself
acting angry, he laughs at himself; when he sees himself acting happy,
he laughs with himself; when he sees himself acting frightened, he
jokingly attempts to mock scare himself; and when he sees himself acting
sad, he covers his eyes as they begin to water. Featuring Shanon Quan. Music by COIL presents TIME MACHINES.] |
| SWITCH
DOCTOR: A SELF PORTRAIT -- Recently featured in the Nanofestival
Film Festival in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Download SWITCH DOCTOR: A SELF PORTRAIT:
16.2MB |  |
| With SWITCH DOCTOR: A SELF PORTRAIT, I also
used a projector for similar concepts. This piece illustrates the
notion of myself trying to "be myself" and trying to "understand
myself," both in a metaphorical and literal way. Throughout the video,
I am attempting to mimic my previously recorded movements and acting
perplexed with the me that is being projected. I am toying again with
the idea of the projected self vs. the true self. Near the end of such
a vulnerable piece, I bring in staged effects for the illusion of
something like a hardened exoskeleton to project myself from my viewers.
This piece was done as homage to Matthew Shepard, done on the evening of
the five-year anniversary of his murder. The vulnerability and
martyrdom which I am portraying throughout actually acts as empowerment
for me as the artist, as it causes discomfort in the viewer. Music by COIL vs. ElPH : "The Halliwell Hammers" -- another tale of martyrdom, the murder of the author, Joe Orton, by his lover, Kenneth Halliwell.] |
| THE SHIVERING SANDS -- Download THE SHIVERING
SANDS: 18.3MB Special
thanks to Adrienne Frisbee. Music by COIL presents Black Light
District: A Thousand Lights in a Darkened Room.] |  |
| AN HOMAGE TO THE LAST CASTRATO
-- Download
AN HOMAGE TO THE LAST
CASTRATO: 23.7MB |
 |
| Music by
the Last Castrato: Alessandro Moreschi, "Giovanni Aldega: Domine Salvum
Fac Pontificem Nostrum Leonem." Alessandro Moreschi (1858-1922) was the last known castrato, and the only one to have made records. In the sixteenth century, boys were castrated (although not as drastically as eunuchs) around the age of 10; they were subjected to severe vocal training, which developed their lung power and their skills and so they were able to make their debuts at about 18. To achieve this so-called desirable end, it is said that up to 4,000 boys were mutilated annually by the wishes of poverty-stricken parents who thought they had a sweet singer in their midsts who could make the family fortunes. Sadly, this was often not to be so. Many boys were admitted to more lesser choirs and more failed completely. Moreschi died in 1922 at the age of 64, barely noticed by anyone. Special thanks to Thomas Olson and David Tibet.] COLLECTED VIDEO WORKS 2002-2003 -- DVD $25
|
| --BACK-- | © - Daniel McKernan. |