MARIT_ILISON

The performance “70 Cotton Smocks” (2008-2011) has been waiting for some time to be presented. The project deals with the absorption of values and information noise like mass media, politics, etc. from the surrounding environment that one can either accept or resist. The smock, ordinarily the simplest uniform for medical workers, labs, and couturier ateliers, here signifies certain values and mind patterns one’s subconscious unconsciously absorbs from the environment and takes on in one’s life, slowly losing one’s true self and inner identity. The 70 cotton smocks worn in the performance are hand-dyed in color gradations ranging from white to dark purple. Monochrome color gradation refers to the purest, balanced form of self (white), while the dark purple refers to the self completely absorbed and overwhelmed by surrounding information noise. The artist went through a time-consuming hand-dyeing process, hence looking within while taking off an imaginary smock herself.