Alexandria DeGreef

In our view, talking about perennial topicality means talking about our perception of time, history, and human interactions. As we considered this project a collective debate, we’d like to hear more about your ideas as well. What is your perception of perennial topicality? And which element of this idea do you think that the artwork that you presented wants to portray?

My perception of perennial topicality is that, when taken literally, it is existing conditions that continually recur throughout time. From this I consider the idea of change and adaptation to fit this definition because change is always occurring, and being able to recognize change affirms that there are existing conditions that are being altered over time. By using change as a guideline for my definition of perennial topicality, I then used my artwork to emphasize the recent changes that have occurred amidst the pandemic. 

We are all the sum of our experiences, which shape our personality and perception. How did your personal history affect the creation of your artworks and in what way did you bring it into your project?

Because I worked in a local retail shop in my hometown during the pandemic, I noticed certain parts of my everyday routine, as well as everyone else’s, were changing. I couldn’t leave the house without a mask, or if I did, I had to turn back to get it. I had spare gloves stashed everywhere: pockets, purses, my car, etc. I was also comparing hand sanitizer brands with my friends and family. We rated them based on their scent and feel. This reminded me of how people would choose the types of perfumes they liked. 

Due to the centrality of technology as well as the redefinition of our personal space, in these pandemic times the intimacy and the lack of it are now not only lived but conceived differently. How would you describe your perception of intimacy, relationships, and connection today?

I think the pandemic has redefined the stages of intimacy and how we make connections with others. I was able to have professors teach me from a different continent and see the bedrooms of my classmates, but I have no idea how tall they are or what they look like below their shoulders. Conversely, I still haven’t seen some of my coworkers’ faces without a mask and I work with them in-person every week. I think technology has made our world smaller by allowing us to make social connections across the globe while also creating more distance on a personal level by adding distractions. 

What do you expect from the audience’s experience after viewing your work in this digital environment? How do you think that our endless consumption of digital contents is affecting the production and the fruition of artworks? Do you think the virtual exhibition experience will continue to be a possible tool for presenting your research?

I expect that the audience will be able to relate to my artwork since they have most likely experienced the changes I represent in my pieces. I am sure they have all had to wear masks, find and use hand sanitizer, and wear latex gloves or have a barrier between themselves and the thing they want to touch. I don’t think there’s too much difference between viewing my work digitally and in-person since they are essentially capturing still-life instances, not a video.