Artemis Akchoti Shahbazi
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The Matrix of Our Identity

How to capture from a visual perspective the matrix of our identity?
If we created a timeline on a white wall, no dates, some selected texts and images that we consider to be iconic, ordered in a chronology, and ask you to add your own chronology of factors that brought you where you are and further... through drawings, writings or your own iconic images: what would we see? Would we get out of a limited view of some "parts"? Would we enter in a space of inclusiveness, curiosity, compassion and courage?... Would we see the true Human matrix? Would we become the whole? Would you see what you love and love it?


The intention is to simultaneously sense the history of humanity as a whole, by including all individual's history, and to sense humanity's aspiration as a whole, by including all individual's aspirations. It seems relevant to include everyone's body and voice in the history of humanity and everyone's body and voice in the aspiration of humanity. The assumption is that only then, we can have enough ground to sense what is needed with unconditional confidence.

Original project completed in 2015 and presented at Crescent Moon Project, NYC.


Experimenting with embodiment practices, specifically Social Presencing Practices (See Arawana Hayashi; Presencing Institute, MIT), 2020:

“The Matrix of our Identity”  virtual experiment with SPT, modified field dances, archetypes, scribing, journaling.

With a modified field dance, a group of standers first simultaneously bring with their bodies the imprint of their individual history, their whole history, all their genes, on an imagined timeline. Past, present and future are felt as one. When their body finds its place and shape in the timeline, each stander say a word or a sentence from their spot, out of their shape. The sitters/observers actively listen in silence. Follows a time for sharing the individual experiences as sitters and standers. Switch standers/sitters and this time standers will be asked to simultaneously bring their individual aspirations, what they would like to offer to the well being of humanity. Again past, present and future are instructed to be felt as one. When their body find its place and shape on the timeline, they say a word or a sentence out of their shape. Sitters/Observers actively listens in silence. Reiteretion with writing, drawing and singing out of embodiment place on the timeline follow. A time for sharing follows. Time for journaling, specifically answering the following two questions: 

What is your individual story that you think it is important to bring into the human consciousness?
Did your body tell another story?


There is a difficulty and maybe a sense of loss for some sitters/observers to not to be able to capture the small details and beauty of an individual stillness/movement when the field dances happen simultaneously. However, the simultaneousity of the individual dances are important. Not the precise timing of each move, thought. It is not choreography.  There is a need for spontaneity, and authenticity in this project.  The simultaneous field dances are however important. It is more and more relevant to learn to sense the collective stillnesses and movements, and learn to sense individual contributions in the context of the whole. This is because in a world inhabited by 8 billion people, simultaneous field dances of many individuals is always the reality, and there is a need to include all these dances in the consciousness, especially when working with inclusion.
​

I am deeply grateful for the precious teachings of Arawana Hayashi, to whom I am always going to be indebted.
Copyright © Artemis Akchoti Shahbazi 2013-2021
​All rights reserved
  • Home
  • Wooden Books of Persian Kings
    • Artist Statement
    • The Shahnameh >
      • Khorshid Khanoom
      • The First Kings
      • Sharnavaz
      • Kaveh
      • Zal
    • The Qajar Dynasty >
      • The Six Qajar Kings
      • The Men of Nasser El Din Shah
      • Agha Mohammad Khan & Mahde Olia
      • Qajar Lady
    • The Pahlavi Dynasty >
      • The Last Kings
      • The Story of The Last Kings
  • Projects & Installations
    • The Impermanence Platform >
      • A Conversation with Amir Soltani, human rights activist, filmmaker, author.
    • Sanctionwear >
      • Artist Statement
    • The Matrix of Our identity >
      • Artist Statement
    • Qajars in Perspective >
      • Artist Statement
    • A Mirror for Inner Wisdom
  • Paper
    • Artist Statement
    • A (very) Brief History of Iran
    • Three Qajar Kings
    • The Qajar Dynasty
    • Jebheh Ye Melli to Revolution
    • Prince Alexis Soltikoff
  • Other Kings... Other Stories....
    • Artist Statement
    • Table of Content
    • Paarde Khani
  • About
  • Contact