"ANTI-MOTION"
2024
Anti-Motion, 2024
16 Self-Portrait Photographs
The concept for this artwork was created during a time of intense mental anguish I experienced concerning the realities of my ADHD & natural brain patterns - specifically in relation to the demands of a society I fundamentally disagree with the framework of. I often feel like I am trapped, imprisoned, limited, and otherwise misunderstood due to the way that my brain works and what has come to be accepted as normal expectation of me by contemporary societal standards. Much of this has to do with capitalism, productivity-mindsets, and the incessant financial demands that are put on each of us regardless of our feelings, wants, desires, energy levels, or any other factor we may personally have at any given time.
In my weaker moments, I feel that these thoughts of metaphorical imprisonment are inescapable due to the way that our society is currently structured, and the way that we think and operate within these seemingly concreted ideas of humanity. A lot of these feelings come from the thought of never being enough or doing enough to actually feel mentally or physically safe within our world. This is a common thread in much of my own thought and work - represented here very directly by my body being limited to within the bounds of a rigid box, which is a physical representation of my emotional and mental state while going through these moments.
Alternative/Descriptive Text:
Alex Kaye is shown using their own unclothed body to compose a series of 16 different figurative shapes within a two-dimensional wooden square, representing a feeling of limited motion both mentally and physically.
Anti-Motion
2024
This artwork consists of a series of self-photographs taken during a period of emotional distress due to the realities of living in a contemporary/capitalist society with a neurodivergent mindbody (specifically ADHD). (Continued.)
Anti-Motion: Notes/Reflections: Edited Transcription From Self Audio Recording By Alexander Kaye:
The concept for this artwork was created during a time of intense mental anguish I experienced concerning the realities of my ADHD & natural brain patterns specifically in relation to the demands of a society I fundamentally disagree with the framework of. I often feel like I am trapped, imprisoned, limited, and otherwise misunderstood due to the way that my brain works and what has come to be accepted as normal expectation of me by society's standards. Much of this has to do with capitalism and the incessant financial demands that are put on each of us regardless of our feelings, wants, desires, energy levels, or any other factor we may personally have.
In my weaker moments, I feel that these thoughts of imprisonment are inescapable due to the way that our society is currently structured, and the way that we think and operate within seemingly concreted productivity mindsets. A lot of these feelings come from the thought of never being enough or never doing enough to actually feel mentally or physically safe within our current society. This is a common thread in much of my own thought and work and is represented here very directly by my body being limited to within the bounds of a rigid box, which is a physical representation of my emotional and mental state while going through these hardships.