A Curated Mess

by Kate Johnston

I created this audio-visual project for my media art module. We looked at how media and art intersect and combine to critique/provide an overall message. There were a range of topics from which I chose ‘identity and matter.’ The project, titled ‘A Curated Mess,’ presented in a short video format, explores the formation of teenage/young adult identity through the lens of the teenage bedroom. In the piece, I wanted to critique how much the media influences our identity formation, especially during a transitory time. The presence of the media has affected our individual lives and physical spaces. I wanted to comment on how, alongside social media growth, the formation of our identities have become increasingly fragmented and replicated through physical, consumerist items. Trevor Paglen’s work inspired me, ‘The Curve’ and Pipilotti Rist’s work. Paglen'swork with algorithms and images influenced me to conduct a mechanic algorithm when putting this piece together. The repetitive visuals and audio of consumerist items display this. From Rist, I was inspired by the display of her work, as she would have projection installations. I chose to project the video back onto my bedroom wall to create a moving image bedroom poster, accentuating my original message.

Kate is currently studying BA Media and Comms. She enjoys making short films/experimental films and wants to do more of this. She is also the new off-air manager of Wired Radio, so enjoys planning events, updating social media, redesigning the overall brand and look of Wired. She really enjoys listening to music, going on nights out, getting into a good series and a good book. Also loves to cook in her spare time for herself and her housemates. She’s very interested in politics, mainstream film and TV and books, with a particular focus on women, coming of age dramas/documentaries and LGBTQ+ topics. 

Short film platform: @kjshorts