The artist Artie Vierkant, found through the website rhizome.org, is a digital media artist working with various types of media, from text to interactive works to videos to altered images. Currently working on a masters in fine arts, Vierkant has been showing in several solo exhibitions since 2006. Although I was originally attracted to the artist because of a simple and serine altered video of a sunset, I became compelled to discuss another of his works; one that relates to recent subjects I have been studying and that I may pursue in my St. Mary’s project. Sifting through various videos, images, and installations, I came across Vierkant’s Live Sex Blog.
Created in 2008, the work was created using a live blog feed and eight individuals approaching and committing sexual acts. These eight people were asked to post to the blog in the style similar to Twitter or status updates, discussing the moments they were experiencing as they attempted and succeeded in getting their lovers to participate in sex and sexual acts. The gender of each individual is not identified, nor are names. This creates a level of ambiguity in the relationships at the beginning of discussion, continuing in some relations while others start introducing pro-nouns. Another interesting aspect of the art is the explanation of the actual acts occurring and how they vary from one another. We are shown several perspectives on how sex should be, some being more forceful, involving spanking, etc. and others showing more mutual relationships. The conversation begins rigid and awkward, typing their laughter as if they were all together, sharing how uncomfortable it was to start the process of sex while typing. They discuss how they are propositioning their lovers, revealing higher levels of willingness in some partners than in others. Going against gender stereotypes, the only individual identified as unwilling to participate at the blog’s start is the male partner of a female participant. It continues as they enter into foreplay, switching from talk of the act to the awkwardness of the project. As the sexual endeavors continue they begin to slur their typing, actually discussing with the rest of the group that the mistakes make it more realistic. Some struggle to get the act started, finding the presence of others, even via internet, interfering with the intimacy and the mood of their situation. Reaching the ending comments of our blogging experience, we also reach the climax of our story, some orgasming while typing, others waiting until after to discuss it, others falling behind and never posting a point of “success”.
Clip from Blog:
11:30
ec:
go time
Wednesday December 3, 2008 11:30 ec
11:30
ti:
we begin by finishing our drinks
Wednesday December 3, 2008 11:30 ti
11:30
ng:
bnmnjf
Wednesday December 3, 2008 11:30 ng
11:30
ro:
wait, we’re starting?
Wednesday December 3, 2008 11:30 ro
11:31
ro:
is everyone here?
Wednesday December 3, 2008 11:31 ro
11:31
ti:
it’s 11:30, so we begin
Wednesday December 3, 2008 11:31 ti
11:31
ro:
i cannot stop laughing
Wednesday December 3, 2008 11:31 ro
11:31
pk:
Girlfriend still in the shower, sitting here waiting for her. Not remotely horny ATM but hopefully her nakedness will fix this. Should probably turn lights off
Wednesday December 3, 2008 11:31 pk
11:32
ng:
im goin
Wednesday December 3, 2008 11:32 ng
11:32
ti:
“lights on or off TELL ME THE ANSWERS TO MY QUESTIONS”
Wednesday December 3, 2008 11:32 ti
11:32
ti:
putting on music
Wednesday December 3, 2008 11:32 ti
11:32
ee:
the boy isn’t so sure about this anymore
Wednesday December 3, 2008 11:32 ee
11:32
ro:
still laughing.
Wednesday December 3, 2008 11:32 ro
11:33
ti:
so far clinical; weird
Wednesday December 3, 2008 11:33 ti
11:33
pk:
Lights are off. She’s washing her hands? Still not horny.
Wednesday December 3, 2008 11:33 pk
11:33
ro:
boy trying to figure out who everyone is
Wednesday December 3, 2008 11:33 ro
11:33
ro:
not quite sure what’s going on. at all.
Wednesday December 3, 2008 11:33 ro
11:33
ng:
shes touching my back caressingly
Wednesday December 3, 2008 11:33 ng
11:34
ti:
laughin
This project creates a sense of connectivity for the viewer. As they read the document, they see the relationships of others intruded upon and recreated to incorporate their outside spectators. The banter between characters creates room for comedy in the discussion of sex, something that is considered a taboo topic by many cultures. This comedy helps to comfort the viewer and ease the process of exposure to another’s sexual mind. The language used and the personal thought that are typed in this conversation engage us in reflection on our inner monologue of sex, finding similarities and differences in both topic and style of thought. By being introduced to the several styles of sexual preference we are confronted with our own bedroom choices, made to reflect upon similarities and differences between us and the strangers.
Along side this connectivity, finding ways to relate and rebel against the sexual deviances of others, we are also forced to relive and, in a way, experience the intimacy of others. When reading descriptions of almost any situation, many people find it difficult not to try and visualize the experiences we see. In this situation we are asked to feel the nibbling of the neck, the awkwardness of the computer during the sex, and the rise of intimacy and raw sex to the front of the mind as situations become more involved and intense. It is possible that the artist had hopes to put the reader of the blog into that situation, made to ask themselves: “Is this right? Can I feel this along side without being inappropriate?” We push the limits of our own sexuality by accepting what we are reading, understanding the origins of the words, and remembering throughout the conversation that this sexual description is not just a fabricated depiction of human connections, but an experience that occurred in reality.
I enjoy this project for its adventurous approach in presenting human sexuality. If I had to adjust an aspect of the work, I may try doing it again with all females to examine the discussion without the presence of the stereotypically dominating male voice. It would be interesting to see if women, when presented with a like audience, would feel more comfortable expressing deeper desires and acts of “deviance”. It could also be interesting to entirely remove the genders of every participant, leaving room for those reading to reach another level of personal exploration. Am I communicating with the same gender? Am I reading the relationship between two men and should I feel strange if I am aroused by this, if it is not my typical orientation?
This artist takes time to explore an issue that is not often discussed, as neither a positive nor a negative. Many people, when asked to talk about the topic of sex, would resist any association with the conversation. This blog allows these individuals who are uncomfortable with sex as a common topic, thought, and experience to come face to face with the sexuality of 16 other people, learning from the openness of others and exploring their own personal deviances and preferences through the awareness and arousal of others.
End of Blog:
2:20
ro:
pundinnng jinjito meib
Thursday December 4, 2008 12:20 ro
12:20
om:
goodnight
Thursday December 4, 2008 12:20 om
12:21
ng:
back on back
Thursday December 4, 2008 12:21 ng
12:21
ti:
harder.. came.. "sorry"
Thursday December 4, 2008 12:21 ti
12:21
ng:
i grab her shoulders
Thursday December 4, 2008 12:21 ng
12:21
ng:
clkoiasde
Thursday December 4, 2008 12:21 ng
12:21
ng:
coming almost
Thursday December 4, 2008 12:21 ng
12:22
ng:
fgofd
Thursday December 4, 2008 12:22 ng
12:22
ro:
am i a good student if i let myself be tied up anf fuckedr
Thursday December 4, 2008 12:22 ro
12:23
ng:
ok
were making macaroni bye
Thursday December 4, 2008 12:23 ng
12:26
ro:
ghh yg bgghyghchoking me and fucking me hard fuckc
Thursday December 4, 2008 12:26 ro
12:26
pk:
There's sex juices all over my keyboard. Going to clean up and maybe dry my carpet. "Stop writing a denouement and get in the shower" have fun kids, adios
Thursday December 4, 2008 12:26 pk
12:27
ee:
turn off
(to read the full script from that evening click HERE)
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