It’s no surprise that online dating is a form of interaction used by millions across the globe, but several artists’ in depth look at the world of digital dating opened many eyes at the Estevan Art Gallery and Museum.
On Jan. 15, the opening of I'll show you mine, if you show me yours: Love in the modern age in Gallery 1 was accompanied by the work of three artists who each brought a unique perspective to a topic that is often shrouded in misconception.
“It used to be a very taboo thing, but today, it’s very much the norm,” said Amber Andersen, curator of I’ll show you mine and director of the EAGM, before the exhibit’s official opening.
She noted the exhibit was an excellent opportunity for everyone, both who are familiar with online dating and those who aren’t, to enter a “safe” environment and gain a fresh understanding of the interactions taking place at the tips of millions of fingers.
Unique pieces dotted the gallery, each approaching the topic of the night from a variety of different angles. Whether it was a mirror with an attached transcript of those conversations or paintings of hopeful animals looking to fulfill their online desires, there was no shortage of creativity.
“People seem to be very comfortable with animal representations,” Andersen said about Belinda Harrow’s work. Harrow is known for using animals in her pieces. “She has these two opposing ideals in her pieces … because people have different reasons for being on there.”
Sean Fader, an artist based out of New York, spoke with the Mercury after the exhibit and talked about his work in the gallery, a project, he said, which took him over a year to complete.
“It was one of the most intense things I’ve ever done,” he said.
Between Jan. 2010 and Jan. 2011, Fader went on 100 first dates, all of which stemmed from countless interactions on dating websites.
He would try and create an image of the person on the other end of the conversation based off their interactions. Then, upon their first meeting, he would photograph his date who would be dressed as Fader initially perceived them. A second photo was later taken, portraying the real person Fader was dating. In the gallery, the first photo concept was on the left, the second on the right. A short transcript of some of their interactions is placed in the middle between each photo.
“Working on this changed me in an extreme way,” Fader said, admitting it was an incredible experience, while acknowledging the difficulties that came with his personal life and his work becoming a single entity, a consequence he initially underestimated.
“Going on 100 dates in one year is a psychological minefield,” he said. “By the end I lost 15 lbs., I went from a brunette to bleach platinum blonde, I definitely developed an eating disorder at a certain point, and all of my generated self-worth was based on external approval,” he said. “When a date or a photo was terrible, I felt like a giant failure and I took all of it on at the same time. But then if the photo, the date and the sex were great and my date wanted to see me again, it was a high I never experienced in my life.”
Fader said a popular misconception surrounding online dating is the end result of an encounter, which he said many believe is a long-term relationship or marriage.
“What’s wrong with meeting different people and gaining different experiences? So what if your date is a disaster, you’ll have a story to tell later on,” he said.
Fader and artist Shannon Yashcheshen spoke with visitors at the EAGM through an online conference call and talked about their work and online dating.
