Sasha Sautter

I began by dissecting and deconstructing the prompt, beginning with the truth and how truths vary depending on the person, society, historical context. I incorporated this in the background using different peoples thoughts on the nature of truth. With the rise of AI questions about the artists and their practice become more integral, how do we contribute to Art in a way AI can’t. This project focused on the ways in which our individual brains respond to something whether a word, image etc. I addressed the concept of the peddler through the process of collecting and gathering; something that is such a personal act as it speaks to something that in some way meant something to you. The costume thus became the exploration of me as the peddler who had: physically collected broken glass whilst walking through the city, stitched on my grandma’s treasured pendants etc. The styling was also important – I wanted bright makeup in terms of the eyes with dark under-eyes – a theatrical pretense hiding really worn eyes. For me this conveyed the idea of whimsical performance masking hard truths. I thought that the character shouldn’t wear the glasses they sell as maybe they’ve seen the truth but it’s too painful, hence the worn eyes. I thought of pictures I encountered of war photographers after expeditions and specifically their broken eyes – I refer to the artist/photographer as it’s about witnessing/seeing the truth rather than being part of it. The main idea responding to this prompt for me was to bring in my experience of life (something so innately human) through the process – the collating of personal items as well as drawing attention to ideas of seeing and perception and whether its optimistic or pessimistic – what does the truth mean to you?