New Media Caucus Media-N (2007) Illinois Open Publishing, US
Sarah Jane Pell
Bits, Bytes and the Rhetoric of Practice: New Media Artist Statements 2007
Journal of the New Media Caucus, Fall 2007 | v.03 n.01 | ISSN: 1942-017X
I am an underwater performer, artist-researcher and human-factors researcher mostly known for developing Aquabatics: an aqueous new media practice. This research practice is utterly unique, unconventional and innovative and I find myself very much alone. Nevertheless the bubble I create around myself is often an illusory part of the discipline that allows me to delve deeper into the research. The reality is that Aquabatics as a new form of Live art, philosophy and transdisciplinary research practice, connects me to many people and draws on many histories and newly combined disciplines that loosely categorize as new media arts research. According to my understanding, an artist is a poetech way of being in the world and the term artist-researcher describes a person who is curious enough about life and the universe to take action towards making connections and pointing out the spaces in between dynamic points of reference. The art and science of this type of practice-based philosophy is vocational, and not occupational. It is a 24/7 way of life closely linked to the phenomena of breathing. The pursuit of art and research in new media encompasses everything. In my experience, the more rewarding revelations and best physical performance comes when my biorhythms fire approx every 7th then 11th day. During this precious time, the white noise of the world disappears, and for up to 52+ hours, I make focused, unwavering advances towards new work and new ideas. Little interrupts me. This is predominantly a private affair and a time to learn more about human behavior, utility and performance and sometimes I have the opportunity to publish the results and/or perform these experiences live with an audience or group of peers. This may take the form of theoretical proposals, formal papers, talks and symposia, lectures and presentations, reports, short films, objects for installation, new creations for exhibition, apparatus and sculptures, prototype technologies, choreographies and larger-scale performance productions...