ARTIST TALK : Christian Andersson

On May 10, 2023, I was able attend Cristian Andersson artist talk, {De}Coding Conversation,  in which he explained his artwork faced the evolving nature of technology.

Throughout the talk, Andersson discussed various aspects of his work, from his performance pieces to his music-based works. One recurring theme that stood out to me was his exploration of the concept of leaving your comfort zone and accepting uncertainty in the pursuit of an artistic career. Inspired by Eleanor Roosevelt's famous quote, "Do one thing every day that scares you," Andersson pushes the boundaries of his own comfort zone, translating this sentiment into thought-provoking performances. 

His works, "The Scriptorium," caught my attention. In this piece, Andersson created an art installation that aimed to describe feelings rather than simply expressing them verbally. Drawing inspiration from the scriptorium, a place where monks would rewrite and transcribe texts, Andersson transcribed a six-month Twitter feed onto a massive canvas measuring nine feet tall and forty feet wide. The content of this transcription included references to significant social issues such as the Me Too movement, school shootings, hurricanes, and the impact of Harvey Weinstein. Through this artwork, Andersson successfully captured the emotional weight and complexities of these events, inviting viewers to reflect and engage with the issues on a deeper level. As a multimedia artist, Andersson also explored the power of audio in his performances. During the artist talk, he shared his live readings of Twitter feeds, where he manipulated elements such as time shift, pitch, and volume. During his exhibition, these readings were delivered simultaneously from different speakers, creating a unique and immersive experience. Through these audio manipulations, Andersson challenged the conventional perception of social media and questioned its impact on our lives—how much is good, bad, or simply okay? 

Jordan Fund posing in front of his piece, "The Scriptorium"