Skin Freak

BACKGROUND The aim of the research was to present video and the video screen in particular as an extension and outgrowth of the human body, the screen as biological material. There remains an integral link between the screen and the body. The work seeks to explore in a highly original way this close and intimate relationship of the 'screen body'. This research builds upon research into the abject body and technology which was part of PhD. (The output has been reported before, however this exhibition places the work in a very different context, within an international museum alongside other Australian video work) I was also curator of the exhibition, however here I am claiming my work as a creative ERA output and not my role as curator CONTRIBUTION The work established new knowledge in how the human body can be conceptualised as an extension of the contemporary media sphere. In addition the work saw the early development of an idea of the 'screen body' which was later realised in a major new work The Screen of Flesh. The significance of this research is that it makes explicit the integral relationship we have with the screen, the history of Hollywood is the history of the human body, so intimate our relationship to the screen the screen becomes a projection of our desires, obsessions and perversions. SIGNIFICANCE My video work 'Skin Freak' was selected by the curator to appear in the international museum show UNCO at the Torrance Art Museum. The work explored lateral ways in how we can consider screen space as an extension of the human body in a unique and original way. The video work was a component of the work 'Some Thing' which was funded by Australia Council Inter-arts Office.This work was selected by a curator and a highly regarded art institution The Torrance Art Museum and was seen by a large and diverse audience. The work was also funded by Australia Council for the Arts Inter-arts office ($17,470) (selected by a group of peers)