Process of Mindset and Mood

I haven't thought of a great name for this piece. But upon completing the Abramovic instructions of "Look At Your Reflection", I was inspired to do this. Just in case you haven't seen it, here's the link: https://youtu.be/Kzf2-wnxFm0

I've already shared that when looking at my reflection for an hour, I saw a lot that my mind couldn't reconcile. I saw faces I didn't recognize, and those I did. Not all of which were my own! On any given day, especially as I've gotten older, I see aspects of my female relatives in my own face: mother, grandmothers, aunts, and sisters. That isn't new. Once I realized how much of my father I saw, I wanted to push that aspect further. There is an aspect of that exercise that is like time travel. Recognizing genetics and hereditary traits through generations. Not just recognition in ancestry, but being able to recognize the traits in the generations after me; in my own children and nieces and nephews, too! A web of dominant traits. 

I had some fur scraps left over from my Magdalene costume. A behind the scenes look at that here: https://vimeo.com/548641668/20b1fd7553 I'll share some of the completed performances of that hike in the coming days. I made the costume for that out scraps that I ordered from an amazing faux fur company: National Fiber Technology (or, NFT Fur). The same company that developed the fur for Chewbacca's costume!  I used some of the leftover fur to fashion facial hair. In this case, a very full beard. 

With the beard and clothing on, I found myself adjusting my demeanor and actions even before the camera was on. Emulating a walk that I could recall as I took out my tripod and gathered my tools. Embracing the casual nature that my male counterparts must feel in the heat of the day when opening their shirts. All part of the process that I take to achieve a mindset for the mood I intend to convey!