The Crowd Dynamic :
The Human Element is a powerful part of my discovery, questions, and work. From the metaphorical hand to the abstractness of the shapes I put into it… we are change.
The shapes are people—who don’t look like people. The human element in my art. They are a symbolic shape that resembles, in the simplest form, a person, a body, the being not being. They just are. I document their Journey.
The idea of the crowd psychology has fascinated me for years. The minute I got my drivers license I was out as much as my parents would allow me to have the car. I went to Union Station, to Olvera Street, Chinatown, a variety of amusement parks around my area, and LAX… all to watch people and their dynamic.
The Crowd. Being in it, participating within its structure, navigating through it. Exploring if I walk quickly how do I find the path. Will it open up or do I say “excuse me” all the way through. Reactions.
The install concept currently consists of three elements.
Paintings: the paintings example the opportunity of space and how it frames the crowd dynamic. Using the symbolic image of the line with circular shape at the top allows the shapes to go on journeys… in and around a painting. The image shown is “California Dreaming: from the mountains to the sea” if you look close you’ll see the symbolic shape meander through joining humanity with nature exampling the dynamics of environment.
- Plexi Shapes extend out from the paintings mounted away from the wall on extenders to cover more space and bring a 3D shadow affect to the space. These example the action that happens from a confined location over-flow into another space. Such as when a room becomes full, where do the people go? My vision and questions continue the exploration of my paintings being the room and the installed shape continues the possibilities of movement. The shape play to exampling interactions within a crowd.
Framed photos of people etc. spotlighted in the plexi “Eye of the Shape” shot at art openings and other places. It’s interesting for me to see the expressions I get when I’m taking the photos. And questions that are asked give me a sense of being part of the crowd and still separate in my own world of observation that is so important to being an artist. The documentation of society and time/space. To bring the hidden to light even if it’s starring you right in your face. The feeling of being part of a greater whole yet singled out.
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The 3D elements take a walk-around the area and take selfies! Just another episode on the Journey… The Being Human Experience. Human-like shapes representing people within the Crowd Dynamic. Shapes that resemble in the simplest form—a person, body, the being of/or not being. They just are…. here enjoying Bergamot Station.
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To follow is an excerpt copied from Wikipedia about crowds.
Wikipedia: Biomorphism is an art movement that began in the 20th century. It models artistic design elements on naturally occurring patterns or shapes reminiscent of nature and living organisms. Taken to its extreme it attempts to force naturally occurring shapes onto functional devices.
Crowd Psychology: Crowd psychology, also known as mob psychology, is a branch of social psychology. Social psychologists have developed several theories for explaining the ways in which the psychology of a crowd differs from and interacts with that of the individuals within it. Major theorists in crowd psychology include Le Bon, Tarde, Freud & Reicher. This field relates to the behaviors and thought processes of both the individual crowd members and the crowd as an entity. Crowd behavior is heavily influenced by the loss of responsibility of the individual and the impression of universality of behavior, both of which increase with the size of the crowd
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The Crowd Dynamic #1
Inclusion/Exclusion/Socialization
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Shapes represent people within the crowd dynamic — that don’t look like people. They are shapes that resemble in the simplest form a person, body, the being not being. They just are. This is an episode in their Journey.
Diversity of color and shape bring the shapes to life, they mingle, they overlap, they share their energy and create a community. At this point they are on the same “path” together, be it a staircase or other. The black and white paintings represent an“otherness”, outsiders.
People who are not yet within the space the colorful crowd occupies. This group, crowd, have a different set of experiences as with them there is a constant change of perspective, inclusion, exclusion, acceptance in the socialization of crowd.
Shapes are an element I use in my work. The human element that runs through it.
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