Artist Statement
Using the mediums of performance, video, and installation, I try to connect with viewers on a base level that addresses the unspoken challenges that many face in their daily lives.
I endeavour to make people feel that they have some company in their doubts and fears. My latest series looks at the social phenomena of loneliness and uncertainty. This exploration stems from my prior artistic research into the value of privacy.
At a time when more people are connected to each other than ever before, there is a growing feeling of isolation and insecurity among many individuals. The new public space now extends to the home, where feelings of failure are often hidden behind felicitous Twitter and Facebook updates. (‘Social Networking: Failure to Connect’, The Guardian, 2010) As we battle to accept ourselves in comparison to others, a “Status Anxiety” takes place, for want of love from peers or a belonging in society. (Alain de Botton, 2004)
My recent works look at this issue and how individuals behave in a status-driven world.
Often manifested as personal performances, I expose feelings of insecurity and courage through simple acts – checking my facebook account for updates in public, regarding myself up close after removing my makeup, dancing in my kitchen to cheer myself up, daring myself to sing in public or even trying to find a date on lavalife and the street.
Other ideas that I look at are feelings of loneliness or doubt between people within relationships and the fear of the unspoken.
Prior to this series, my artistic research concentrated on issues of privacy and individual’s loss of control of personal data online. In this previous work I considered the psychological aspects of surveillance and control, as well as the value of personal information to commercial third parties. This exploration led me to develop a deep respect for the importance of privacy and the need for an independence of thought for every individual. These are essential elements for the development of identity and self in a constantly changing and mediated environment.
In all of my works I endeavour to engage the common viewer and to make them feel that others also share their same doubts, fears and anxieties and to make them feel a little bit better.
Solo Exhibition
| 2011 | 'Drifting' Western Plains Cultural Centre Dubbo, d/Lux/MediaArts |
| | 'A Chinese Love Drama' Videotage Hong Kong |
| 2010 | 'Drifting' and 'Exposed' Griffith Regional Gallery d/Lux/Media/Arts Tour |
| | 'Data Miner' Bondi and Maroubra Beaches, Waverley and Randwick Councils |
| | 'Data Miner' Newtown Square, Marrickville Council |
| 2009 | 'Privacy Online: A Series of 3 works' Cleveland St Theatre, Sydney |
| 2008 | 'Drifting' beta_space, The Powerhouse Museum |
| 2007 | 'The Musicians' beta_space, The Powerhouse Museum |
Group Exhibition
| 2011 | 'Humour Me' Brenda May Gallery Sydney |
| | 'genart_sys' | A Window on Digital Culture, Australia Council of the Arts |
| 2010 | 'Freedman Foundation Travelling Scholarship Exhibition' CofaSpace |
| 2009 | 'Creativity and Cognition Conference 2009' UC Berkeley California |
| | 'Feigned Innocence: We All Look' Osage Gallery and Para/Site Art Space, Hong Kong |
| 2007 | 'The Gaze' First Draft Gallery, Sydney |
Awards
| 2010 | Freedman Foundation Travelling Scholarship |
| | FUSE Videotage Residency Grant, Hong Kong |
| 2009 | Marrickville Arts and Culture Grant |
Publications
| 2010 | Review: Freedman Foundation Travelling Scholarship, CofaBlog, Naomi Gall |
| | Interview with Julia Burns, Da SuperPaper |
| 2009 | 'Our House' Julia Burns, Ardrian Hardjono, Alla Bekker, Doreen Ee, October 2009. C&C'09: Proceeding of the seventh ACM conference on Creativity and Cognition, ACM Press. |
| | Dorkbot NYC Presentation at Location One, Soho, New York City |
| | Review on ArtLife Blog |
About the Artist
- Julia Burns
- New media artist
- Based in Sydney, Australia
- www.juliaburns.com
The Tweeties is an interactive sculpture and video-based interface that provides a glimpse into the possible future of online voyeurism. Presented as a light hearted commentary on the public nature of social networking and micro-blogging sites, The Tweeties allows viewers to spy on bloggers in their home.
Similar to The Sims game, viewers are invited to watch the Tweeties in their private moments. However, this time, the subjects are real and so are their blog entries.
Viewers interact by opening the doors of the dollhouse to view the lives of each of the subjects.Installation consists of a wide-screen lcd monitor/tv, a modeled dollhouse with sensors on each door, and a pcto process the ‘twitter-alike’ program.
Personal Comment
Drifting
Drifting relates to how much I feel insecure in life. Not necessarily on relationship-wise, but just, in general. As a private person, I don’t feel comfortable to be observed, just like the characters in the installation. I find the concept of integrating real objects with full-scale interactive video characters interesting. People are so used to watching movies, they always have the urge to know more. Which sometimes leads to voyeurism and trespassing.
The Tweeties
The tweeties reminded me of why I despised social networking. How much private information is being offered to others accidentally or, accidentally on purpose. The concept is simple and straightforward, using a dollhouse to represent the ‘location’ of all the tweeters. Tweeters tweet in their comfort zone, expressing their insecurities and what not without shame, and most importantly, not knowing they’re being watched. The basic human trait of needing attention backfires in this blatant truth of social networking.
Reference Links
http://www.dassuperpaper.com/pdfs/DSPi13.pdfOther works
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