para//e/s
Medium: five-screen video and stereo audio; in collaboration with Insun Choi and Samuel Montgomery
Duration: 9'44"
Duration: 9'44"
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Drawing from inspiration from mathematical and theoretical physicists’ findings as well as Buddhist cosmology and multidimensionality, para//e/s implements an imaginative approach in exploring multiple layers of potential parallel worlds. Modern scientists such as Dr. Neil Turok, mathematical physicist and string theorist, and Dr. Michio Kaku, theoretical physicist and widely renowned futurist, have speculated that multiple big bangs may have existed prior to the big bang of the current universe. If past big bangs have occurred, then multiple iterations of worlds and universes have also existed—a concept further explored in several philosophies and religions as well. Within Buddhist cosmology, the idea of multiple worlds and universes is represented through multidimensionality, a reality consisting of 31 multiple planes of existence that “stack” on each other. Dante’s Inferno implements a similar idea of reality consisting of multiple layers: the nine circles of hell (limbo, lust, gluttony, greed, anger, heresy, violence, fraud, treachery).
While para//e/s does not explore these cosmological planes of existence or circles of hell, para//e/s does explore five potential, imaginative iterations of parallel universes: a world made of mirrors; a world without gravity; a world where humankind consists of alternate physical forms; a world where humans are extinct; and a world where motion is visually manifested through overwhelming color.
When approaching the fixed media composition for para//e/s, Insun Choi and Samuel Montgomery co-wrote a leitmotif that develops throughout each of the five parallel universes, creating a sense of déjà vu—a phenomenon that Michio Kaku describes as a potential evidence for a multiverse. Drawing inspiration from Rene Magritte, Salvador Dali, Cinta Vidal, and Josh Keyes, Jae-Eun utilized personal as well as online image and video archives to generate imagery for five distinct, imaginative universes. Jae-Eun further used After Effects, Polycam, and Sketch Meta Demo Lab to create additional imagery.
References
Big Think, “Michio Kaku: What Is Déjà Vu? | Big Think,” November, 15, 2011, video lesson, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ks_UHmaZcSg
Brandon Keim, “The Big Bang Wasn’t the Beginning,” WIRED, December 31, 2007, https://www.wired.com/2007/12/the-big-bang-wa/.
“[ essays ]: Environmental sound matter,” Franciso López, April 1998, http://www.franciscolopez.net/env.html.
“Golconda, 1953 by Rene Magritte,” Rene Magritte, accessed on February 13, 2023, https://www.renemagritte.org/golconda.jsp.
James Saunders, “Modular Music,” in Perspectives of New Music 46, no. 1 (2008): 152-193.
“Josh Keyes,” Thinkspace Projects, 2023, https://thinkspaceprojects.com/artists/josh-keyes/.
“Kaku on The New York Times Essay,” Michio Kaku, last modified 2023, https://mkaku.org/home/tag/multiverse/.
“Le Sommeil (Sleep), 1937 by Salvador Dali,” Salvador Dali, accessed on February 13, 2023, https://www.dalipaintings.com/sleep.jsp.
Matt Staggs, “A Visitor’s Guide to Dante’s Nine Circles of Hell,” Penguin Random House, accessed February 13, 2023, https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/articles/a-visitors-guide-to-dantes-nine-circles-of-hell/.
“Multi-dimensional realities: 11. Buddhist Mandala,” The Legacy Project: The Ascension, last modified 2017, https://mind-matrix.net/the-ascension/the-mind-matrix-kingdoms/multi-dimensional-realities/11-buddhist-mandala/.
“Pentaptych, 2019: Original Dance Score,” Ryan Lott, accessed on February 13, 2023, https://ryan-lott.com/pentaptych.
“Portfolio,” Cinta Vidal, accessed on February 13, 2023, https://cintavidal.com/.
Big Think, “Michio Kaku: What Is Déjà Vu? | Big Think,” November, 15, 2011, video lesson, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ks_UHmaZcSg
Brandon Keim, “The Big Bang Wasn’t the Beginning,” WIRED, December 31, 2007, https://www.wired.com/2007/12/the-big-bang-wa/.
“[ essays ]: Environmental sound matter,” Franciso López, April 1998, http://www.franciscolopez.net/env.html.
“Golconda, 1953 by Rene Magritte,” Rene Magritte, accessed on February 13, 2023, https://www.renemagritte.org/golconda.jsp.
James Saunders, “Modular Music,” in Perspectives of New Music 46, no. 1 (2008): 152-193.
“Josh Keyes,” Thinkspace Projects, 2023, https://thinkspaceprojects.com/artists/josh-keyes/.
“Kaku on The New York Times Essay,” Michio Kaku, last modified 2023, https://mkaku.org/home/tag/multiverse/.
“Le Sommeil (Sleep), 1937 by Salvador Dali,” Salvador Dali, accessed on February 13, 2023, https://www.dalipaintings.com/sleep.jsp.
Matt Staggs, “A Visitor’s Guide to Dante’s Nine Circles of Hell,” Penguin Random House, accessed February 13, 2023, https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/articles/a-visitors-guide-to-dantes-nine-circles-of-hell/.
“Multi-dimensional realities: 11. Buddhist Mandala,” The Legacy Project: The Ascension, last modified 2017, https://mind-matrix.net/the-ascension/the-mind-matrix-kingdoms/multi-dimensional-realities/11-buddhist-mandala/.
“Pentaptych, 2019: Original Dance Score,” Ryan Lott, accessed on February 13, 2023, https://ryan-lott.com/pentaptych.
“Portfolio,” Cinta Vidal, accessed on February 13, 2023, https://cintavidal.com/.