Ephemeral Pops, 2024

Photography

The Ephemeral Pops photography series captures the fleeting interplay between breath and bubble gum through a sequence of photographic stills. Each image chronicles the ephemeral state where the artist's breath expands the gum, creating a delicate tension. Achieving larger bubbles demands increased effort and precision in the act of blowing. This tension is a dance of forces: the more air infused, the greater the resistance felt by the artist's mouth. What Foucault perceives resistance as an intrinsic element within the framework of power dynamics. He posits that resistance is essential to the very concept of power, implying that without the presence of resistance, the notion of power becomes non-existent.

Each photograph in the series symbolizes a moment of equilibrium between the air within the bubble and that within the artist's mouth, with the exception of the bursting point. This continual exchange and balancing act mirrors the power relations inherent in human interactions, be it with the state, societal norms, or established rules. Like these power relations, the state of the bubble is often in a precarious balance, vulnerable and transient.

The stability of each bubble, although seemingly steady, is inherently fragile. Both internal and external influences can disrupt this balance, leading to significant consequences. The act of blowing bubbles, much like navigating the complex web of power relations, is an exercise in finesse, requiring acute awareness, care, caution, patience, and a sense of responsibility. This series invites viewers to reflect on the subtleties of power and the transient nature of balance in our lives.