(Experimental performances recorded at Chiang Mai University Art Centre, with a special thanks to Sasiwimon Wongjarin (Aom) from Studio88 and Chaiwat Lochotinant of the Len Yai Performance Project.)
From the Gender Fluid Residency at Studio88 in Thailand, this series of workshops between Jonathan Armour and ‘Golf’ Thanupon Yindee, used AR and performance to enable people to explore their gender/sexual identities – a reflection on how our existence is becoming hybrid between physical/biological and virtual/digital.
Each human’s identity only comes into play when in the presence of another person. Here a young man is exploring who he is through his responses to other people in scenarios often not possible in the physical/biological world.
The digital space is where we can be who/what we want to be. We can be totally free. We can be more than one entity. We can chose. And then how will other people interact with you in your various forms? Those people may be physical or digital too. Each will be a valid existence. And that interaction could be based on the real world protocols or perhaps a more diverse digital engagement.
Part 1
A contemplative engagement between Golf and Roy, who appears to hang naked before him. There are instinctive reactions at play here, touching on gender/sexuality, racial/potentially cultural difference and sexual attraction.
Part 2
A playful and sometimes sensual interaction between a gay man (Golf) and a digital woman (Emma).
Part 3
As opposed to the other parts of this series in which Golf reacts to the digital people, here, Kam’s movements came about through Golf. Golf’s brief was ‘to entice’. The mo-cap AI failed to capture Golf’s intricate movements and the mo-cap came out glitchy, resulting in Kam’s awkward enactment of a moment originally performed by Golf.
A surreal coupling in which Kam is performing in his parallel existence whilst Golf is trying to attract his attention.
Might our digital selves develop different ways of behaving, which are outside the normal human protocols and body language?
Part 4
Taking the serious notion of the denuding of skin (removing the person’s identity in many ways) and mashing it with twerking – because we can!