What is this monster
inside me and outside me?
Born from the neverending cultures.
The daily routine
of living behind a mask,
blurring the senses.
Do we really see,
through our shame within this world,
by looking away.
3x Haiku for the triptych “Monster” Colour photography and video.
Video-installation and photo triptych,, selfportraits with bananas, 3x Haiku
The video work and photograph Monster explores two observations:
- The label of being called a banana by native Asians, as a way to understand a Western-thinking person with yellow skin. It raises questions about human’s need to label and classify.
- The idea that labeling someone projects a role onto them, and this role can be like a mask that fits societal expectations. We all have roles to play in different interactions, including social, cultural, and political contexts. Moreover, we often wear masks for ourselves to avoid confronting uncomfortable truths.
The choice of using banana peels as a mask may initially seem literal and humorous, but the title Monster adds deeper symbolism related to the mask and the human psyche. Towards the end of the video, the transformation is complete, and the face underneath is forgotten. This raises the question of how conscious we are of the masks we wear, and how they can become a part of us.
The layered banana peels and references to horror icons like Leatherface and the jittered movements in Japanese ghost movies add to the sense of the uncanny and represent a fascination with horror as a means of distraction from our own suffering. In popular culture, social media, and the news, there is an abundance of human misery that constantly captures our attention.