Mapping the Unseen

Molly Maguire

Anxiety and Isolation

Anxiety and Isolation of Communication/ Is any one really home?

With this piece I would like to discuss the anxiety that comes along with communication and the lack there of, along with the isolation it causes. The communication of ideas is the basic of our culture, there are many ways these concepts are discussed. Some of which can cause anxiety. Anxiety can be caused by isolation and feeling misunderstood. Is it better to be misunderstood and so called ìconnectedî or isolated and never heard? Are we just as isolated and alone sitting by ourselves disconnected from communication with anxiety or more isolated being heard and miss understood with more ways of communication, such as technology? Physically isolated or mentally isolated?

With technology such as the phone, wireless connections and the Internet are ways of more communication but does it make communication better. With these communications if know one is understands a persons views the person might feel more isolated and have greater anxiety. With all the new ways of communication technology it does not make the quality of communication better. Is any one really listening and learning to communicate on a deeper scale, and learn to open ones views and mind with expanding technologies?

I want to depict a cell phone communication in front of one of the empty store at the Power Plant Complex. This will be a sound and video piece. During the womans' conversation you will only hear her side of the line. The conversation will be based on communication with isolation. As the woman in the video is showing signs of anxiety and passing in front of the vacant store you will hear her breathing getting heavier and her body language more flustered.The conversation will go back and forth till the phone disconnects. You will hear the phone disconnect and the beeping that is associated with that. Anxiety continues as the woman sits on the floor. Sounds will start to overlap, hearts beat faster and louder, sounds warped together for a few minutes. At the end of the piece the phone will ring. A phone number will be given to the viewer to call and bring closer to the piece. Either a answering machine will pick re sighting part of the dialog. The caller will be urged to leave a message responding to the dialog. this will be a site specific piece and the view will be able to go to the place where this conversation prier took place.