DYSTROPIUM DIARIES - Visual evidence base

DYSTROPIUM is a term of the artist’s invention - a portmanteau of dystopia, dysphoria, delirium, trope, distraction, destruction and even hope.

Diary pieces were produced as responses to embodied emotions triggered by podcast and news reports concerning US and international politics during the historical period from 20 January - 20 May, 2025.

Using assemblage, collage, found objects and materials, the artist undertakes an accounting of ephemeral data, as record keeping of emotional responses. 

Each diary entry depicts forms of frustration, impotence, internalisation or unexpressed rage born from habits of polite dissent and self-repression. Their titles relate to embodied emotions experienced and observed. Each entry is a response to specific issues or events taking place during this period. 

This iteration of the work explores a social legacy of self-restraint, self-control and euphemistic decoration that demanded decorum and mastery of the art of polite dissent. It considers the costs versus the value of an inheritance of masked emotions designed to keep ‘unpleasantness’ at bay.

The Diaries form part of an installation-in-development for a walkthrough DYSTROPIUM, where visitors will be able to playfully confront their own feelings of disempowerment and use objects to express what they feel..

New forms of knowledge and research

Looking to the role of art in society as a connector and resource, the artist seeks to build on previous research to validate new forms of data gathering and analysis, and to lend rigour to non-traditional forms of information.

Using emotion as a stream of information, the compositions aim to bring together ancient ways of knowing, with modern methods of scoping, collecting and articulating data.