Weaving Data and Stories into Art: A Look the Process of "Threads"
Sexism and gender bias is a topic that does not follow a linear path. Conversations can take on different tones depending on the participants’ generation, location, socio-economic status, identity, and so many other variables that, as we’ve all probably noticed, it’s nuances and societal effects are not something that can be neatly summarized, generalized, or unpacked. But these are conversations that need to happen, nonetheless, and as artists, one way we can contribute to the dialogue is to incorporate them into our work as a way of reframing and recontextualizing this ever evolving struggle.
This is exactly the goal of our upcoming project, Threads of Assumption: The Biases You Weave, mfD’s multidisciplinary installation as part of their residency at the Goethe Institut’s Studio 170. We first told you abut the project-- a collaboration with Sofie Hadara, Martha Rettig, and U-Meleni Mhlaba-Adebo, made possible by The Boston Foundation Live Arts Boston Grant-- way back in early May (refresh your memory here!). At that time, we were gathering 20 minute live conversations on the topic of sexism and gender biases to be used as the source material, which would then be transformed into data sets via an AI bot that would analyze the emotions and overall sentiment. The data would then be the basis for the installation, which will feature live music, as well as live art installation and poetry.
ALL THE DATA.
The opening is just two weeks away, and now that we are sifting through the pages and pages of data from 22 conversations, the actual process for creating this original work is finally taking shape. What does the data from 22 conversations with 44 participants about sexism look like? Well, as the photo shows, it looks about as complicated as the topic itself actually is. In summary, the data has shown that most of the words used by the participants lied pretty low on the spectrum of emotion; the major takeaway, as Maria put it, is that “sexism is an understood part of how we walk in the world.” With that being said, there was an expectation shift in how Threads is now being created. Whereas Maria’s initial idea in formulating this project and the artistic process was to mirror the pattern of learned biases through an AI program, she and her collaborators have since learned through analyzing the conversations that “people are not fixated by learned behavior and biases as much as we thought...but what is more enlightening is just how much we have normalized our responses to biases.”
Earlier this week, Maria, Sofie, Martha, and U-Meleni had a 6-hour retreat of sorts to discuss the data and spend time in the space to discuss exactly what story they want to tell, and how they want to tell it. Different ideas and concepts are going to be woven throughout; visually, the data will be physically manifested in the form of thick pieces of yarn in a multitude of different colors. The language of the conversations will be woven through poetry. The numerical data will be woven and manifested through the original music. Without giving too many spoilers, audience members will be greeted at the performance installation by being asked a question. They will be given something that will guide them through the room, where a number of visual experiences and sound bed will invite them to participate in a certain way. The performance itself-- on Thursday and Saturday evenings, respectively-- will be about 20 minutes in length, but the installation will be on view throughout the entirety of the residency, which is Thursday June 24 - Sunday June 27.
Martha, Sofie, U-Meleni & Maria had a planning retreat to dissect and decode the data for “Threads”
The installation of Threads will open at 6:00 PM on Thursday, June 24. For a full schedule of the performances and installation throughout that weekend, see the Studio 170 page here. What’s so exciting about this project is the fact that the process and practice is all taking shape in real time. Maria and her collaborators have already learned through this process that this is something they will definitely be pursuing in the future. The potential that the technology possesses is truly limitless, so all that remains is for artists to ponder what tough questions they can use the technology to tackle.
