Elements of cognitive psychology

Conviction Our perception is limited

Problem A feeling of uncertainty

Quest Omniscience

Solution — the artist's message Improving perception — Eulogy of discernment

Query The objectiveness of our perception of reality

Primordial theme Truth/Essence

Conviction We are conditioned by the system

Problem The fear of a loss of freedom

Quest Freedom

Solution — the artist's message Breaking free from the system — Eulogy of independence

Query The manipulation of our perception of reality

Primordial theme Morality/Virtue

Conviction The system is unfair

Problem A feeling of injustice

Quest Justice

Solution — the artist's message Fighting the unfairness of the system — Eulogy of revolt

Query The domination of inequality

Primordial theme Morality/Virtue

Conviction Reality is dull

Problem Fear of boredom

Quest Stimulation

Solution — the artist's message Constructing a more exciting reality — Eulogy of creativity

Query Escape from everyday life

Primordial theme Otherness/Exoticism

Conviction I have no identity

Problem Fear of being insignificant

Quest Identity

Solution — the artist's message Being what I value — Eulogy of originality

Query The uniqueness of one's existence

Primordial theme Existence

Conviction Existence is fragile

Problem A feeling of vulnerability

Quest Security

Solution — the artist's message Magnifying vulnerability — Eulogy of fragility

Query The humanness of existence

Primordial theme Existence

Conviction Living is experiencing

Problem A feeling of numbness

Quest Experience

Solution — the artist's message Living intensely — Eulogy of emotion

Query The physicality of existence

Primordial theme Existence

Conviction The surrounding context is integral to the artwork

Problem Where to situate the beginning of the artwork

Quest The artwork as Indiscernibility

Solution — the artist's message Creating indiscernibility — Eulogy of the indivisible

Aesthetic Dematerialization

Primordial theme Interaction

Conviction The visitor is integral to the artwork

Problem How to include the visitor

Quest The artwork as Reaction

Solution — the artist's message Triggering a reaction — Eulogy of dialogue

Aesthetic Exchange

Primordial theme Interaction

Conviction The artwork results from an action

Problem How to show the action in the artwork

Quest The artwork as Capture

Solution — the artist's message Capturing the action — Eulogy of the inaccessible

Aesthetic Resurrection

Primordial theme Apparition

Conviction The artwork is an action

Problem How to make an action an artwork

Quest The artwork as Event

Solution — the artist's message Constructing the event — Eulogy of the moment

Aesthetic Instantaneity

Primordial theme Emergence

Conviction An artwork is sacralized by its technical character

Problem What level of technical prowess is required to sacralize an artwork

Quest The artwork as technological Production

Solution — the artist's message Using technical innovation — Eulogy of perfection

Aesthetic Celebration

Primordial theme Transcendence

Conviction An artwork is sacralized through handcrafting

Problem Which type of handcrafting is required to sacralize an artwork

Quest The artwork as handcrafted Production

Solution — the artist's message Using handcrafting know-how — Eulogy of imperfection

Aesthetic Ritual

Primordial theme Transcendence

Conviction The artwork is a vestige of Man

Problem How to make the artwork a vestige

Quest The artwork as Witness

Solution — the artist's message Making pastness — Eulogy of the abandoned

Aesthetic Memory

Primordial theme Loss

Conviction The artwork creates vulnerability

Problem How to “vulnerabilize” the spectator

Quest The artwork as Vulnerabilization

Solution — the artist's message Creating a vulnerabilizing force — Eulogy of the dangerous

Aesthetic Danger

Primordial theme Threat

Conviction The artwork is a staging of reality

Problem How to stage reality

Quest The artwork as Staging of reality

Solution — the artist's message Staging reality — Eulogy of simulacra

Aesthetic Lifelikeness

Primordial theme Artifice

Conviction The artwork is temporality

Problem How to create duration

Quest The artwork as Flux

Solution — the artist's message Creating temporality — Eulogy of the loss of control

Aesthetic Introspection

Primordial theme The Self

Conviction The artwork is an indirect process

Problem How to make the art-making process indirect

Quest The artwork as Trace

Solution — the artist's message Creating a Trace — Eulogy of untraceability

Aesthetic Control

Primordial theme The Self

Conviction The artwork is a handcrafted process

Problem How to make something by hand

Quest The artwork as Uniqueness

Solution — the artist's message Leaving a unique trace of one's handcrafting — Eulogy of traceability

Aesthetic Individuality

Primordial theme The Self