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Artist Statement I began using balloons as a preparation on my guitar in the late 1980s. The idea to use balloons was rooted in the philosophies of John Cage, and influenced by the Fluxus movement, free improvisation and other avant-garde movements. However, what drove me to make them more than just a sound maker in my arsenal of effects and to make them a singular focus was the AIDS crisis. In the late 80’s and early 90’s I was living in New York City and many people, including my friends, were dying from AIDS. No one knew how to prevent the spread of the disease. Then it was discovered that latex condoms could prevent people from contracting HIV. This was when my obsession with using latex balloons as sound conduits began. Because repression had been a major factor in delaying the dissemination of proper information about prevention, I knew that I must approach my latex instruments without inhibition. This non-judgmental aural relationship and its corporeal visual manifestation remains a cornerstone of my work. VIEW MANIFESTO |
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Photo by Efrain John Gonzalez
Hair and makeup by Laurie Hefner |