Indisoc2100

Introduction

Individuality and social ability should harmonize in a social system. However, generations Y and Z of privileged nations seem to be moving away from this union globally. Individuality, stubbornness and self-realization are the life goals of those born after around 1985.

Can the individual of tomorrow still integrate into the social life that we know?

Indisoc 2100 stands for Individual Society in the year 2100. The project discusses the formulated question and provides information about where individuality and social ability unite.

Emergence

In march 2022 I left my home country for an indefinite period of time to devote myself entirely to art. My confession.

To do so, I moved into a 150 years old house on the Piedmontese hills. In nature and tranquillity I see the optimal conditions for the further development of my work.

Due to my move from Switzerland to Italy, I was prevented from working in a studio for a long time. The old house in Italy had to be renovated after my arrival. A time-consuming and tiring job. So I was looking for a solution to work on a new concept without having a permanent workplace.

The idea came up to create a large-format work consisting of 100 fragments. Each completed fragment meant a small step forward. At the same time, that was a great boost of motivation in these turbulent times. The fragments painted in a wide variety of places with a mobile studio and so I remained flexible according to the circumstances.

Background

In the past three years, I noticed that the people around me have dealt more and more with their personality and individuality. This was reflected, for example, in a reduced willingness to compromise, less time for togetherness and a focus on work and self-realization. The will to enter into responsible relationships in a partnership was rarely evident.

This phenomenon piqued my curiosity, so I continued my research. The result of my research was that exactly these changes in generations Y and Z can also be observed internationally.

The causes may be different. However, I see the heavily changed digital and thus globalized society, the corona crisis and the age of around 30 as the main reasons. Quite apart from the desire of the digital natives to live out their stubbornness, freedom and self-realization. Younger generations fundamentally question our economic, life and socio-cultural models and are even more self-centred.

My own changed life situation and perceptions then led to the realization of this project.

Concept

The assembled composition shows emotional facets of life, abstract anatomical representations of body parts, objects, activities, vocations and neural processes. The heads of the figures are teardrop-shaped with a striped pattern and are titled «Neuro».

100 partial fragments are put together to form the complete work. Hundred is symbolic for 100% and in my context for the whole, complete reality. Enlargements of details of the abstract headboards complement the overall picture aesthetically.

Emotions and characteristic facial features are hidden and the focus is directed to the gestures. The face disappears and individuality is greatly reduced. The viewer is confronted with a species that seems to be similar to himself and recognizes parallels in body and activities.

Questionability

Is individuality a privilege? On the one hand, it frees us spiritually because we see ourselves as more exceptional through differentiation. Also, individualists usually do exactly what they want. On the other hand, however, the individual distances himself from the collective through this act of self-realization and the problem of social integrity is intensified. This can be seen, for example, in the phenomenon of inability to relate. The rapidly advancing digitization also promotes this development. The resulting fragmentation can be seen in the partial fragments of Indisoc2100.

The corona crisis has shown that many jobs also work remotely. Companies will save on  real estate costs and continue to expand this concept in the future. This, in turn, will further promote isolation. People can continuously develop their individuality at home because they work largely alone and are forced to deal with themselves. This strengthens one's own views, opinions and characteristics. At the same time, one distances oneself from the occurrences of togetherness, one forgets to move in the collective.

Social cohesion is part of our nature and essential for our continued existence. However, the sharing of information in digital networks, for example, does not allow for great emotions. Emotions that are essential to be able to feel authenticity. Sending a laughing emoji with an emotionless face has become part of our communication. This in turn changes how we communicate in the real world when we meet people live. I think there is a distance here.

Reaction

The 100 fragments are sewn together into a new abstract world, with figures that appear to be human-like. Almost every being is drawn on a separate piece of canvas. Each partial fragment stands symbolically for the perceptions and world views of the depicted figure. Their own universe. Their mindsets. All 100 universes are assembled into a single reality that is visible to the viewer at a glance as a whole.

Intermediate Thoughts

Does individuality create distance? What does individuality actually mean? Do I have to adapt the system to the individual or vice versa? Is it still possible to socially integrate into society if one becomes an individualist?

Statement & Conclusion

The artwork is intended to remind us that we are genetically and anatomically the same. Our bodies have the same blueprint. We differ in how we look, think and act. Superficiality starts with the optics. My characters all have the same head and body structure. The viewer is thus forced to find the differences in skills and interests and not in appearances.

I think talent comes from interest. This in turn leads to special abilities and our actions. Genetic and neural uniqueness can help to create super talents.

If this statement is correct, then individuality simply means a strong interest.

My initial question is resolved.

Diversity of interests is imperative. Promoting «individuality» in that sense is very important. Diversity enables different tasks with different interests to be mastered.

At the same time, it is important to understand that we are genetically identical. This can strengthen social understanding, which then leads to better integration and social ability.

Generations Y and Z should internalize these facts in order to be able to live out their free spirit and still remain part of the collective and be integrated.

The recipe for the clock remains to meet in person and gain an understanding of the spirit of society through the intimate encounter. Individuality doesn't have to mean selfishness when you can share it with the crowd.

Indosoc2100 shows a reality full of individuals that are exactly the same anatomically. All 100 universes coexist side by side, yet are closely connected.

We don't have to learn social integration, it exists. We just must not forget it. Indisoc2100 reminds us of this and aims to help the affected generations to pass on social integration to their descendants.

Work Process

Cropping the partial fragment

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Apply Gesso with spatula, spread with hands

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Washing hands

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Drying canvas with blow dryer

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Rough sketch directly on wet gesso in pencil

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Details and contours with brush, oxide black

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Drying, pressing, titling

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Sort and arrange 100 pieces

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Sewing, sewing, sewing

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Building the wooden suspension structure

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Mounting and hanging of the artwork

Description of work process

The partial fragments were created in a period of three months between February and May 2022. An additional three weeks were needed for the sewing work.

All fabric parts were cut out by hand with scissors in many different sizes. The gesso was applied directly to the canvas with both hands. The same painting surface was used for all fragments. This cardboard became rougher and bumpier over the course of the process due to the accumulated gesso residue. This created characteristic bumps on the fragments.

After each priming, the hands had to be cleaned again in order to be able to paint directly with oxide black on the still humid surface. A complex process that was repeated 100 times.

Each fragment has its own title and thus functions as its own work of art in the overall concept.

In order to be able to do the sewing work on my own, I had to learn how to sew beforehand. The individual parts were sewn together piece by piece with a double seam using the patchwork technique in an anti-clockwise direction. The undertaking was extremely strenuous, time-consuming and physically and mentally demanding. It increased to such an extent that my back pain became so severe that I suffered from tremors and a fever broke out as a result of the weakness. After a few weeks, this challenge was mastered.

Now the next challenge followed. The frame for hanging the 446 x 384cm canvas was built with around 35 wooden poles. For this purpose, an outline of the outer contours was constructed. This frame was then stabilized with many struts. This step was also almost an engineering undertaking.

In the end, the canvas could be attached to the wooden frame and hung up.