Follow Me - Disobey

‘Follow Me – Disobey’ was an art experiment I carried out in Mexico in 2016.

I was invited to be part of a group show in Oaxaca during “Día de los Muertos” (Day of the Dead).

My contribution consisted of four parts: two linked films, the art project and group exhibition, the pictures, and two poems.

I wanted to find out how the natural human desire to seek beauty would be affected by thepresence of so many connotations of death. This was my first experience of putting myself behind the camera. Usually I prefer to collaborate with a team, but on this occasion – due to the spontaneous nature of the project – I felt it was necessary to rely only on myself. No scene, person or situation you see was planned. Everything was a product only of coincidence, a desire to experience genuine beauty, and the openness to let it happen and to capture it. Was the experiment successful?

TWIN FILMS

The result is two linked films.

You could compare them to the colourful wings of a butterfly.

On one wing there is the question

“Who am I…”

and on the other wing you will find reflected the answer:

“I am who…”

„Who am I“

„I am who“

You need both wings to fly.

We all need to reflect on what we do, and who we are, again and again.

To be able to have true perspective for this self-reflection, I wanted to ask myself the question

with a clear mind. This meant getting rid of my quotidian emotional filters, in order to operate

with a purer state of awareness.

To achieve this state of mind I decided to embark on a contemplation of death.

Death is our common destiny. We’re all going to die one day.

The difference between one individual and another lies in how they process this information.

Personally, I quite like thinking about death, because it focuses me on the here and now. The past is gone, the future didn’t happen yet. By contemplating death, I enter into harmony with myself, and I believe it gives me the

opportunity to see genuine beauty – what I call:

The beauty of death

ART Project – „Follow me“

I was invited to be part of a group show in Oaxaca during ‘Día de los Muertos’, Mexico’s

‘festival of the dead’. It’s a time when Mexicans celebrate their dead ancestors. In Mexican

culture, death plays a big role in life. The dead ancestors will always be a part of the families’

lives. Being in this environment made it easy for me to contemplate death.

Why did I call the project ‘Follow me – Disobey’?

We’re all told to follow our parents, teachers, colleagues, and our boss. Following an

alternative path is frowned upon in our society. To be different is not a common goal. But if

you only have a few hours left to live… suddenly everything is possible.

Every minute becomes precious (The Beauty of Death).

So if someone tells you ‘Follow me’, you shouldn’t blindly obey. Reflect first on what you really want, and if you feel like you should disobey – do it.

Only you know what you really want. Every person is different, and to be different is beautiful.

The altar in the film is a two-piece mirror. On the top is an LED sign that blinks and says “Follow me.” People are attracted by the blinking sign and this invitation.

After all, it’s an easy way to live, just following others. These ‘followers’ are forced to meet their reflection in the mirror – they’re confronted with themselves.

If someone says follow me, it means you should disobey, and follow yourself.

There is also a hidden second mirror overlaying the first one. Its size is 61.2 cmÇ.

(This dimension is a recurring theme in my work. For me it symbolises the minimum space a human needs.

Just as Hitchcock always has a cameo in his movies, I like to insert myself into my own projects too).

POEMS

Follow Me – Disobey „Who are you“

Who are you?

You actually don´t know.

You are just waiting.

And your life is only about following.

But life is about disobeying.

You need to disobey.

– Disobey. Kiss. Death.

– Drown yourself.

– Take your resurrection.

– Feel yourself.

– Be different.

To Disobey, is beautiful.

Just be.

Follow Me – Disobey
„I am …“

I have two dogs I´m walking along.

From both I expect the same joy

I say I love them no matter what

Knowing one day I have to die, but I didn´t know it will take a life time.

I have two dogs I´m walking along.

From both I expect the same joy

The black one is beautiful, strong and kind and the white one is ugly, stinks and bites me all the time.

I say to my self „Kill the dog“,

but instead I feed both with my nec.

I have two dogs I m walking along.

I was alone , I was a mess.

Following others weeping in front of my death.

Living means to let die

Can this beauty clear my mind.

I know you are there.

I know that one kiss from you could make me crumble.

I expect myself in your eyes,

Follow me means follow yourself

I let the beauty of death kill my wealth.

Credits: ‘Follow Me – Disobey’ (2016)

Yearning for beauty? You’re not alone!

Thank you Adrina Drina for holding my hand at Burning Man and inviting me to follow

Thank you Elliott Bennett Coon for being a sparkling light

Thank you beautiful party souls Oaxaca ‘Gem & Bold’ party for letting me film your beautiful moments

Thank you to the lovebirds for sharing the beauty of your love with me

Thank you Carlos E. Heredia Hidalgo for asking the right questions at the right time

Thank you Marco Gasparin for stopping the car in front of me

Thank you Daliah for mentioning Raúl

Thank you Raúl for inspiring me and introducing me to Egle

Thank you Peter for showing up unexpectedly

Thank you Ugo Lo Rocco for believing in me

Thank you Egle for the beautiful moment we shared and for introducing me to Kin Cuvas

Thank you Carlos Cardiel for following me as I followed you

Thank you Maria Ronchi for being such a strong beauty

Thank you Juliette Gesumaria for you being a butterfly, in and out of the water

Thank you Juan Carlos for being the master of recognising the beauty in people

Thank you Kwietha Bolden for asking me if I was ready

Thank you Sampson Kevin for dancing playfully with my ideas

Thank you Graham for expecting so much

Thank you Ana for being so kind and friendly to me

Thank you Sasha Lija Đorić for being so beautiful, enduring and patient

Thank you Sheily Pepper for being an enchanting golden bird

Thank you Rodrigo and Katia for allowing me to be a part of your most lovely moments

Thank you Kin Cuvass for showing me your heart with honesty

Thank you Hikuri Roots for recognising what is in my heart, and keeping it close to yours

Thank you Rachieed Roots for being beautiful just the way you are

Thank you Cristobal Maya for inviting me into your world

Thank you Giorgio Salvadè for making me feel beautiful

Thank you Sofia Fernandez for trusting me to depict your beauty

Thank you Solenio for speaking to me in the language of friendship

Thank you Claus Sendlinger for feeding me with respect

Thank you Klaus Wagner for always being there when I need you

Thank You Marc Dubé for always putting my words in the best light

Thank you Anja Senckpiehl, my partner in beauty – more so than I could ever have expected!

Thank you Emanuel M. Schwermer for being the first one to tell me – You can do it alone

Thank you Ike Aligbe for putting the colours behind my ears

Thank you Friedemann Schmidt for the delightful dance of images

Thank You Caroline Millahn for the meeting of souls

Thank you Aaron Gustav Ahrends for inspiring me

This Project’s purpose was to seek beauty and to find beauty. I’m so grateful to all of you, as you showed me that this is the way so see, feel and live life. I´m not alone.

Follow Me – Follow Yourself.