LCN Story: Artist IttahYoda

The artist duo, IttahYoda is interested in the loss of linear continuity and order in the virtual world where there is no hierarchy or order in the information available. The relation between human and technology feels as if it is becoming more equal as the separation between the object and the subject is becoming more and more meaningless. The work that they make just exists on its own as one perspective of a multiple possible truth, without trying to pass a specific message or proving something to convince the viewer.

There is a new consciousness derived from globalisation and digital technologies changing living conditions between our virtual and actual lives. IttahYoda tries to create work that can bridge the two lives together and that can co- exist in both sides of the worlds. Sensing spirituality derives the new horizon of materialism and mentalism. It is a step towards a new ecosystem, of media and material, directed toward another future, another body – a renewed sensing of the organism. What makes a person human? What if we replaced almost all of the body with cybernetic and synthetic parts: would we still be human? And what if we took that final step and replaced even the brain? Through their collaborative practice, they try to push these boundaries as much as possible, through the layering in their loss of individualism through working as a unit as well as losing their physical identity and limitation as a unit in the virtual reality.

What new medium or project are you introducing to your practice and why have you chosen it?
We would like to develop a new series of work in relation to an idea of a “Space Garden”. Our aim is to create work interacting with the audience and developing the idea of virtual reality in a physical space through a site-specific installation. We are thinking of this idea of “Space Garden” as a “space of no law” where freedom and play coexists as a physical reenacting of the virtual experience.

Currently we are in the process of introducing new materials and technologies such as video with painting and 3D cutting and printing with sculpture and ceramic. We would like to push the idea of the viewer being part of the installation and to involve (s)he as an “active” participant interacting with the space and pieces in the exhibition.

What was the main motivation behind your application to the LCN programme?
We were interested to be part of a group again, having a third party giving a new dynamic to our artistic collaborative.  It was also important for us to have access to some help and expertise in exploring a new process in our practice.

Through participating in one-to-one sessions and specialist technician inductions, as well as going to LCN organized talks would help us to break our pattern and cycle as a duo and to push our practice in order to widen the possibilities of our ability of expression and communication through our work.

What is the most useful advice or tips you’ve been given on the programme so far?
We have had advice through one-to-one sessions, to move our sculpture with a robot vacuum. Also various possibilities of the way of showing and materializing the video painting through TV screens and projections was very helpful. We believe that it is important to have a session on a rhythmical basis in order to give us a frame work as well as breaking the pattern and cycle as a duo. It is important for us to go out of our comfort zone and to be confronted with different ideas and ways of thinking.

What plans do you have after participating with LCN?
We have a group show planned in Berlin in December and another group show in London in June 2017. We have cancelled all other shows in order to concentrate on making strong work for our next solo show in 2017. In 2017, we plan to travel in various countries through specific residencies such as EKWC in the Netherlands and ISCP in New York, merging with the local art scene and finalizing our next series of work for our next solo exhibition. Our next solo show will be very different from our previous ones in terms of mixing new technology with more traditional processes, and we look forward to catalyzing this through the various residencies and programs starting with LCN in order to make that possible.