Fiction, Empathy, and Automatism: Life at the Centre of Fuzztopia
Date
2021-09-20
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
ORCID
Type
Thesis
Degree Level
Masters
Abstract
Welcome to Fuzztopia is a multimedia art exhibition comprised of found objects and circuit bent
electronics, which have been altered and hybridized to create sculptures of eccentric alien
creatures. These creatures are known as Fuzztopians, denizens of a fictional living planetoid,
who interact with one another in a society based around dignity, respect, and unconditional love.
The central goals of this body of work are to spread joy to its audience, and to encourage them to
treat others as the Fuzztopians treat one another. This is accomplished first and foremost through
the means of fiction and storytelling. Taking advantage of fiction’s ability to draw in its audience
and aid them to empathize with a story and its characters, Fuzztopia serves as an avenue through
which its audience can befriend its inhabitants, and grow to understand their unique perspectives.
Secondly, the exhibition communicates with the viewing public through the nonverbal visual
language of contemporary North American commercial culture. This common, familiar, and
ubiquitous aesthetic is fused with blatantly fun and eccentric visual signifiers, inspired by
alternative cartooning, experimental video games, and contemporary sculpture. These
imaginative elements all coalesce to form an immersive environment of safety and comfort,
wherein the audience may become acquainted with and learn from everyday objects that are
commonly taken for granted.
Description
Keywords
visual art, electronics, circuit bending, found objects, sculpture, empathy
Citation
Degree
Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.)
Department
Art and Art History
Program
Studio Art