Installations - garyeitzen.com

Alternating Anxieties

Alternating Anxieties is a thesis installation that originates from my deep-seated curiosity about the intricate relationship between risk, anxiety, and decision-making and how individuals navigate decision-making processes based on their personal risk tolerance. The installation immerses participants within a carefully crafted environment which offers a unique opportunity to experience and explore the emotional consequences of choices. Alternating Anxieties offers a compelling exploration of human behaviour and psychology, challenging participants to confront their fears, navigate uncertainty, and ultimately reflect on the intricate dynamics of choice and consequence.

The original concept for the sculpture was to determine if a object created from a concrete cone placed inside a glass support could reflect on the inherent power dynamics in a male - female relationship. My intent was to explore how roles in society are constructed and question societal expectations of gender role. Reflecting on how men are often perceived as strong, dominant, and self-sufficient, while women might be expected to be more passive and perceived as fragile - even though they’re required to support the males entire weight.

Using multiples of these sculptures in this installation allows the forms, their materiality, and spatial relationships to explore themes of alienation, isolation, and discrimination. The choice to group the four statues together and isolate one off to the side is intended to create a visual metaphor for how people often make judgments based on superficial similarities or differences, rather than deeper, substantive qualities.

The following image is taken from my final mock up of “Alternating Anxieties”. It contains all the elements of the final installation but does not reveal the true nature of the encounter. When you finally get to experience it, you will understand!

Offering a chance for transformation based on their own risk tolerance, "Alternating Anxieties" creates a visceral sense of discomfort, inviting viewers to engage with the space in a way that encourages reflection on their internalized anxieties and the societal pressures that shape their actions and judgments. The work opens up a space for self-exploration, where the experience is shaped by the participant’s willingness to confront discomfort.