H.U.G.S. – Human Utopian Generation System
With a sudden surge in spontaneous expressions affection between strangers such as; the Free Hugs movement and Amma the Hugging Saint, the artist wondered, what is the origin of this need for contact? Is it due to an increase in communication online and increasingly segmented communities, are people less used to communicating face-to-face?
The artist is equally intrigued with science and pseudo-science, the work of noted autistic author and scientist Dr. Temple Grandin, and her creation; an apparatus called the squeeze machine. The machine applies a pressure over a large part of the body and has a positive effect. This same logic is re-appropriated in this project to attempt to simulate the positive effects of a hug with the use of a wearable device within the gallery space. The project comments on the need for human contact, dislocation of communities, and our intertwining relationships with machines.
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H.U.G.S. (2009) was created on a month-long residency at Limerick City Gallery of Art as part of the Behind Smoke and Mirrors exhibition curated by Susan Holland. Jackets #1,2,3&4 were fabricated with generous help from Una Hussey fashion designer.
It has since been shown at Catalyst Arts Centre – Belfast Northern Ireland, The Exchange Gallery – Dublin Ireland, Entree – Bergen Norway, Shunt – London UK, Space – Bratislava Slovakia, Stattbad – Berlin Germany.
© Emma Wade