Project proposal 2 expanded: Art doll and sound installation

My current working idea is that this interactive installation features an art doll crafted from reclaimed bandages. 

At the centre of the doll’s open chest cavity will sit a working cassette player. My audience will be invited to listen to the tape, a sonic love-letter created by me. 

This work is an attempt to examine the tension between convenience and connection, between the allure of technology and the tactile intimacy of analogue processes. Through sewing by hand and recording on tape, I am trying to create a space for resistance against the commodification of human attention.

I want to showcase intimacy as an act of rebellion and invite audience into a patient exchange of love, vulnerability and listening. In choosing to press play and listen to the dolls open heart, anyone participating can become part of a shared refusal and stand for authenticity in a culture that trades our focus for profit.

In writing this, I am reminded of my research earlier this year into the anti-facial recognition movement. I may incorporate an aspect of this MO in the work too. I have been wondering what to do for the face of the doll and this feels like a good fit right now. I will reconnect with my previous research and do some sketches.

My current working title is: "The more that you give away, the more that you have. They more that you give away, the more that they take." 

This reference to Halsey's "Lilith" elevates the art doll to a realm of mystical significance. Through reference to the divine feminine archetype Lilith,  the art doll now draws on the lineage of the witches poppet, a magical figure imbued with human emotion and intent. This feels like a powerful lens and an effective way to reclaim and reframe feminine experiences through the work. 

Dually, in an age of algorithmic connection and digital convenience, “The more that you give away…” becomes both a spell and a caution. The doll’s open heart becomes a site of rebellion. An analogue portal for genuine connection, where vulnerability and relationship hold more value than hard data to be used for capitalist gain.

In order to honour the analogue theme of this project, I’ve decided to only include music on the mixtapes generated that is owned in physical form. Because it feels important that every sound carries a tangible history. That each track has been actually held, loved, and listened to before being recorded. 

A technical issue arises from this decision: I don’t currently own a complete working hi-fi system. I’m choosing to see this not as an obstacle, but as part of the process. A reminder that slowness, imperfection, and effort are integral to the analogue experience. I am lucky to be able to borrow some pieces of equipment, and have started to buy the remainder.

I feel a genuine sense of elation at the prospect of creating a collection of sonic love letters, both individually and in collaboration with my friends. There’s something profoundly joyful in curating emotion through sound; each tape becomes a tactile record of care and shared experience. I am toying with the idea of including a microphone in the setup so contributors can narrate their choices. I think small spoken fragments that accompany the music would offer a deeper level of intimacy, turning each cassette into an autobiographical conversation. 

I think a part of the appeal is that it holds much nostalgic value for me: some of my first experiences of the articulation of love were shared in this way. And I adore my friends, am curious to hear about their choices and to have the opportunity to create in collaboration.