My Cells, Fleet

Can I listen to your heartbeat a minute?

“With two stethoscopes, I listened to the other person’s heartbeat while they listened to mine. We tapped hands to the rthythm we hear of each others’ heartbeat. 

It was done for a minute each with both people I don’t know on the streets and people I know on campus, in total of 37. 

I was always interested in the feeling of wanting to connect to someone and the awkwardness that comes with it. I question invasion of personal space, over-sharing informations/feelings, and individual boundaries. Frustration from the contradiction gave me the concept of the performance while Yoko Ono’s “Grapefruit” and Marina Abramovic’s relationship works with Ulay inspired me for the method.

During the performance I ignored and skipped all those thoughts and got close and connected them on the human level by listening to the raw sounds of their heartbeat - the source of our lives. 

It was a minute long meditation in the fast paced world to feel connected with people and to make sure that we are all alive with our heart beating.”