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More is Not Enough: a video poetic performance

More is Not Enough is an adapted Zen parable, translated from a text of the Zen parable into a video-based visual and performative narrative in ASL.

One of some art college video projects. Artist: Jolanta Lapiak.
4:22 minute video, audio music; ASL only.
Calgary, 2003.

The parable is about a stonecutter who is envious of the other other, who in turn is envious of the other and so on, in a loop. This illustrates that as everything is interconnected, it is futile to envy of a greener pasture.

Shortly after making the video of ASL, I had no intention of adding any sort of audio to this video like all of my videos. My college friend played didgeridoo, a musical instrument. I thought of an experiment.

My experiment is that since my friend didn't know ASL, I invited her to create an original music piece to be added to my video. As she was uncertain because she didn't know ASL, I suggested her to follow the rhythms of ASL signing.

In the studio, I set up a sound recorder and a video screen. First, she watched my video to get a sense of the rhythms and movements in ASL. Then she practiced playing her large didgeridoo while watching the video. When she was ready, her music was recorded and added to the video.

Comments

"The artist portrayed a powerful and demonstrative use of signs to convey the message." -- Teresa Fleming, 2005.

Related art: Music Score: video art, Sweet Nightmare video art.

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