Your Demon is You

David Braun, College of the Arts, Sculpture, Advisor - Isabel Farnsworth

This sculpture was created to address the topic of transformation. I am interested in the effect of technology on our ability to introspect and connect as our private lives and internal dialog are increasingly becoming more public. I created a comfortable, private space to be situated in a public environment where an individual can self-reflect while being observed from the outside. From the interior, the occupant sees only their own face in a small mirror. That view is captured on camera and displayed on the exterior in real time on a video monitor. To the viewer on the outside it appears that the occupant is looking at them, but really they are looking at themselves. Can they see the occupant seeing themselves or do they see only eyes? Can we still feel a connection to the person inside when they are looking not at us, but at themselves?

I am interested in how the enclosure becomes a surrogate body of the occupant, erasing their identity except for their eyes. How does this affect the perception of the occupant by the external viewer? Does the replacement of the human body with a generic one affect the empathy of the viewer for the occupant?

I am curious how people will use this object. Will they use it as a tool for transformation and connection or for entertainment and amusement?