Our relationships are a source of healing and well-being hiding in plain sight. We are hardwired to connect with one another.” Dr. Vivek Murthy
How can we as artists enter into the crossroads of a lonely isolated world and respond like a good friend - and create?
The "Mending Project" by artist Lee Mingwei in 2009 is a remarkable example of art bridging gaps. After a devastating earthquake in Taiwan, Lee created an installation where people could bring broken objects, write stories about them, and then repair them together.
The Mending Art project:
- Brought together strangers to share experiences and emotions
- Helped people process grief and trauma through storytelling and collective repair
- Fostered a sense of community and connection among participants
- Transformed brokenness into something whole and beautiful
By mending physical objects, participants symbolically mended emotional wounds, bridging gaps between individuals, and rebuilding a sense of unity and hope.
This project, without a doubt, showcases art's power to heal, connect, and bridge gaps in the face of adversity and it was in the inspiration for my art submission. Friends are most valuable when the chips are down.
When we paint ourselves collectively into an isolated corner, art has the ability to allow us to create a way back to authenic, meaningful, and healing connections.
The Work:-:
Title: "Entwined: A Requiem for the Human Touch" by Erica Birch
Art Statement:
"In 'Entwined,' I confront the suffocating grip of technology on modern society, where the allure of connectivity has devolved into a toxic embrace. This piece is a cri de coeur for the human experience, suffocating under the weight of wires and screens.
Yet, amidst the chaos, I affirm the fundamental truth: we are hardwired to connect with one another. Our innate longing for meaningful relationships, for touch, for empathy, and for understanding, cannot be extinguished by the cold glow of screens.
As artists, we stand at the crossroads of a lonely, isolated world, and we have a choice: to succumb to the darkness or to respond like a good friend and light the way out. We can create, we can connect, and we can heal, together.
Through the expressive brushstrokes and vivid colors reminiscent of Van Gogh, a world is conjured where art and freedom are the only antidotes to the oppressive tendrils of technology. The lone artist, poised amidst the chaos, is a beacon of hope, painting a portal to a world where human connection is paramount.
'Entwined' is a testament to the transformative power of art, a declaration that even in the darkest depths of our collective isolation, the human spirit can still soar. It is a call to awaken, to shed the shackles of our digital prisons, and respond like a good friend and reclaim the beauty of our shared humanity."
Thanks to bestillmedia.com for this opportunity to reflect on the power of various forms of art and most importantly to reflect on connections.
Art work or art process:- Image painted with words of Erica Birch using Meta AI WhatsApp chat bot.
Inspiration:- Be still Media prompt and The Mending Project
Artist statement:-https://ericabirch.com/pages/about
Link to Artwork 'Entwined' : - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zhz-exnrR9eL8PfsfemZOPg9xH49XHvPETCqORBpEYg/edit?usp=drivesdk
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Just for Fun:-
Link to all the pieces I created while thinking of the prompt. Think of it as a fun bloopers reel. I loved them all but there can only be one.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KI4n6UcYdDyuiCAXhjxL0km-M5CytypTJLmxEcLlu58/edit?usp=drivesdk
This blog post was inspired by the bestillmedia prompt. if you are ever feeling lonely or disconnected you should check it out.
https://bestillmedia.org/