I’m there. I mean, I’m here. | Performance Invite.

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Dear [John Smith],
A very Happy New Year! Hope you are doing well.
From January 16th to 20th, 2012 my exhibition “I’m there. I mean, I’m here.” will be on view at California Institute of the Arts.
“I’m there. I mean, I’m here.” looks at certain attributes of social relationships over the internet/ digital media. Various reports talk about social media moodiness, transmitting loneliness to one another, and the absence of politeness over the internet. Internet relationships run the risk of alienating people who populate our daily lives, in pursuit of intimacy with our digital network of family and friends.
Moving from one new place to another while growing up made me socially awkward. Unable to connect with people of dissimilar interests or relate to their sense of humor, I became a cynic. Since I began using the internet as a medium of interaction, my relationships with people have only grown stronger. It has been easier sharing secrets, having arguments, or romancing with many.
Technical glitches and human errors make conversations over digital media similar to face-to-face interactions, or interactions through traditional media (cards, letters, land telephone, shouting through windows, knocking on the door, etc.). At the same time, being non-material, such digital intimacy seems nothing more than absurdity.

You are invited to be a part of this exhibition, by being available online on January 16th, 17th (PST 10:00pm- 3:00am) and January 19th (PST 7:30pm- 9:30pm), 2012. I’ll be interacting with you from the gallery, that will also house other extensions of this project. January 19th is the exhibition reception, so those of you are available that day can witness some of the inimitable CalArts madness. :P

Screen Names
Google Talk: vidisha.saini
Skype: vidishasaini
Facebook:Vidisha Saini
Twitter: vidishasaini #IMTHereV

An extension of this project is a blog which both Pooja and I have been contributing to http://long-distance-relationships.tumblr.com. You should have a look at this as well, some of you might find yourself on it!

Do send an reply about your availability. And share my love with the cats and dogs!

Love,
Vidisha.