Parasomnic frame
This performance piece explores Lara Holland's perspective of living with narcolepsy to raise awareness. The manipulation of a live visual feed allows the audience to experience the fear and confusion of the artist as symptoms like daytime sleepiness and hallucinations occur.
Disclaimer
While narcolepsy can present challenges, many individuals with the condition can manage their symptoms and pursue their goals, careers, and personal interests. Medication, lifestyle adjustments, and support through simple accommodations like short breaks truly make a difference.
The performance happened in two parts, with an intermission between them during the installation showcase. There were chairs set out for the audience to witness an especially difficult sleep episode while the artist journaled their thoughts. The live feed was broadcast on a large TV adjacent to the performance so that the audience could see the artist's point of view through a web camera.
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There is a comfortable place to sleep with a cloud cushion that represents the realm of sleep. At the start of the performance, a mischievous and ethereal being dressed in all black crosses the threshold to bother the artist. This person acts as the metaphysical embodiment of awake narcolepsy that only the audience can see as her poking and clinging leads to the artist eventually dozing off. This depiction emphasizes the weight of unshakable hidden disabilities.
Props, a laptop with prepared media, and a MIDI board are shown hidden from the audience behind a stack of books.
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In part II, the setup is moved to the bed. While Narcolepsy keeps the artist asleep, sleep paralysis and distorted video allows the audeince to see themselves as a distorted nightmare in a waking hallucination.
