flies in my eyes
sometimes it’s hard to see things for what they really are
our experiences shape us in ways we never expect
after difficulties with navigating romantic relationships,
I started wondering what shapes the ways we love,
how we connect, withdraw,
and learn to hold or let go
it led me to read about attachment —
it unfolds across so many layers of being:
home, community, culture,
society, even the world itself
they may seem separate,
yet they’re all connected —
each shaping how safe we feel
with others, and within ourselves
most theories talk about the self and our relationships,
but I can’t stop thinking how it’s more than that —
how the world around us,
its violence, its systems,
its silences,
leave their marks too
flies in my eyes is an experimental work combining silent video and kinetic sculptures. In the work, domestic objects and everyday items represent fragments of experiences and memories which are accumulated over time. These objects are collected by the character in the video and attached to a full-body suit. In the space, the sound of the items colliding — together with rotating motors and trembling belts — produce an unorganised soundtrack for the video. The chaotic noise reflects the disturbances that shape self-perception and intimacy.
The exhibition takes its title from the visual effect called “floaters”: the tiny specks that drift across vision when looking at the sky. Just as floaters are persistent and impossible to ignore, both childhood and generational trauma, as well as insecure attachment patterns continue to interrupt experiences of closeness, desire, and connection.
Special thanks to Priska Raatejärvi for her support and for being part of the creation of this work.
The work was supported by the Niilo Helander Foundation
Textile for the costume was provided by SWAMP