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Gregory Barsamian

A dream world often remains left to the realm of the unconscious, a separate world of its own. But Gregory Barsamian’s animated sculptures bring this dream world into our waking perceptions. Rationality is left behind and we descend into a world of uncertainty. We enter the shadows, perceiving the fine line between real and imaginary. This dream world of Barsamian finds its inspiration from theories of the unconscious and its outlet in kinetic sculpture. As a student of philosophy, Barsamian became interested in the dream analyses of 20th centurypsychiatrist Carl Jung.  He later became interested in the zoetrope, a 19th century optical device that uses images and rotation to create the impression of animation. Taking on this visual illusion, known as the “persistence of vision”, Barsamian’s work is able to explore these theories of dreams and the unconscious through minimal technology, rotating sculptures and strobe lights. Replacing images with sculpture, a dream world is created, one that folds art, science and technology into its shadowy realm.

Although the technology used may be primitive, the effect is transcendent. The sculptures are perceived in real time. We finally share a waking space with a dream world. Our sensory world and our logic are in conflict. We must not only fill in the gap between the movements of the sculptures, but between our waking and unconscious as well. Just as we cannot control our unconscious dreams, Barsamian cannot control the meanings we give to the animated sculptures. Familiar objects face alternative realities, and we must in turn face our own unconscious understanding of these realities as they flash before us in real time. Barsamian’s sculpture allows us to see in reality a glimpse of the shadowy dream world that always wants to escape our grasp.

 Runner 2010