Through deconstructed loops and absurd juxtapositions, the series questions the colonial impulse to categorise, duplicate and simulate the world. It situates this impulse within a present in which traditional behavioural norms are being reinforced by rising conservatism and environmental categories are being radically reordered by climate change.
In 2024, the artist documented a New York animation company building its simulation asset archives for crowd training programmes, recording performers endlessly repeating everyday gestures such as walking, nodding, hugging and kissing. In response, the artist began constructing an alternative archive of behaviours, objects, architectures and weather.
Objects, architectural structures and weather systems from this archive form the initial environment of each Live Simulation. Within this ecosystem, performers repeat recognisable behaviours in endless loops, gradually unravelling and recombining them until established norms begin to break down and new ways of being together emerge.
The weather systems are created using DIY film-set techniques: punctured hoses create rain, large fans generate wind and specialised lights simulate the sun.
The archive in Live Simulation 1 consisted of:
Heavy rain
Medium fog
A sunrise
1 shop front w blue awning
1 curved concrete sidewalk
1 red car
1 band
5 children playing
1 kissing couple
3 runners
1 cyclist
2 office workers
1 tourist
2 roaming teenagers
4 party-goers
3 huggers
2 flirters
3 backpacks
1 skipping rope
1 basketball
A pack of chalk
2 iPhones
1 bike.
Collaboration and Development | Vox Dance Collective: Rachel Tobin, Erin Brandt, Maria Fernan, Alicia Lopez, Isabelle Fleming and Amanda Myroniuk
Project Support | Nick Langford
Performers | Rachel Tobin, Erin Brandt, Maria Fernan, Alicia Lopez, Isabelle Fleming, Amanda Myroniuk, Kiara Chism, Andreya Rollins, Charis Chism, Erika Brown, Emma, Korra Watts, Ameen Wahba, Cullen Krishna, Casey Welsch, Trayton Kaminski, Kyle Tobin, Matt Bailey, Leen Grant, Grant, Camille Balbuena, Gareth Brown and Madeline
Live Score | The Midwest Depressed and Chris Ryan Williams
Documentation | Rio Chantel and Carlie Waganer
On-site Support | Matthew O’Reilly
Vehicle Loan | Alex Jacobsen
Supported by | Bemis Center for Contemporary Art, NE, USA