So when it comes to my art I prefer others to explain what it means, though I do for some suggest what I was attempting to do. Or say.

For example, with the Mechanical series I get asked quite often, “What does it do?”

So I came up with this… more of a possible dialogue of sorts….

What does it do?

That is an interesting question. I would say it is doing what it does. Whatever that might be as I am not sure what it does or how it does it. Or even if it does anything.

Does it need to be plugged in?

Good question. I built some of them with an AC cord, but am not sure if it matters, so we can try it.

Not seeing or hearing anything different.

Guess it doesn’t matter then. Or does it? Maybe it is just doing what it does but we can’t tell the difference between being plugged in or not?

What does the switch do? Maybe that turns it On or Off.

On some, the switch either goes up or down or On or Off, so maybe they do something.

But what happens when I switch it up or down or On or Off?

Got me. Am thinking that when it is up, it does what it does when it is in the Up position. Same when it is down, it is doing what it does when in the Down position. Thinking the same when it is On or Off. Made sense to have switches. Especially with the AC cord.

But nothing changes in either position.

Right. Heck, I have no idea if the switches actually work, let alone what they do, or don’t do. Maybe like being plugged in, it does what it does. It is doing it. Or maybe it is not doing it. Remember, when it is up (On or Off), it does what it does when it is in the Up position. And I guess the opposite when it is in the Down position. Or they don’t do anything at all.

Some have an antenna. Is that so they can send and/or receive? Do they do anything?

Right. An antenna can send and/or receive. Am thinking that is what they should do – send or receive. So, adding antennas to some seemed like a good idea. Maybe the switches turn the antennas off and on? Or more power and less?

But what is it sending and to whom? Or what is it receiving and from where? Are we supposed to hear this through the speakers?

Am thinking that it is sending what it sends to whomever has one that receives and from whomever has one that is sending whatever is being sent. No idea what that might be.

But I don’t see or hear anything. Nothing is happening. There is no sound out of the speakers. Nothing lights up.

Maybe there is nothing to see or hear or light up. Maybe nothing is being received. On the other hand, do any of us need either of these things to happen for something to be happening? Perhaps they just do what they do and they are simply sitting there? Silently. Or they don’t do anything at all. Truth is, I have no idea what these “Mechanicals” do or are supposed to do. I just made them from ideas and images in my mind. Where these came from, no idea.

And the knob? It turns left and right. What happens then? Is it “more and less?”

Well, like everything else, the knob seemed like something that they would need to do what they do or are supposed to do. And so, yeah, am thinking that when you turn it left it does what it does when it is turned left. Same for turning it right. It does what it does but turned right. But again, I have no idea what they are supposed to do. I just make them.

So, I guess it is doing what it does but depending on how it is turned…”less and more” or perhaps “more and less.”

That would make sense. Though in the end, they do what they do. Or don’t do what they do. Or perhaps they don’t do anything other than what you think they do… or don’t do. They simply are what they are.

And for the Mechanical Perception Series, I was thinking of this, since the pieces were meant to suggest that people wear or use the pieces and in doing so, their perceptions of reality is being manipulated.

Found artifacts – from a past, present, future society – used for the manipulation, control, and/or influence of its citizens through their perception of “reality.”
Perception is the process of organizing and interpreting sensory information to understand the environment. However, perception does not equal reality. Each individual has a unique perception of the world based on their experiences and interests. We live in “parallel worlds” of perception, meaning what one person sees or experiences may differ from another’s viewpoint.
Our perceptions significantly influence our actions, reactions, and decisions. The way we interpret situations, form attitudes, and make judgments is all shaped by our perceptual lens.
But perception can be manipulated through propaganda, media, or other external influences. Control over perception can, therefore, lead to control over behavior, actions, and even reality as we know it.
Our judgments and awareness are also influenced by our perceptions. The more conscious we are of how perception works, the better we can navigate decisions and interpretations in our lives. And the easier it is to not be manipulated, controlled, and/or influenced.

THE NINE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF PROPAGANDA
BIG LIE – Always choose the big lie over the small; the masses will believe it more readily.
FOCUS – Don’t make it complicated. Ignore history; keep it simple for simple minds.
REPEAT – People cannot tell the difference between facts and familiarity. The same words repeated over and over will become true in their minds.
BLAME – Always blame, never credit the other side.  Debase, defame, dehumanize.
PROVOKE – Outrage, fear, and resentment are more powerful than reason, logic, or facts.
CRISIS – Shades of gray don’t work: Issues must be life/death, good/evil, love/hate, us vs. them. Urgency defeats objection.
EMOTION – A person might question facts, but they will never question their own feelings.
PANDER – Ignore intellectuals and reasonable arguments; target unthinking masses with powerful emotional pitches. Demonize all who disagree as having bad intentions.
NO LIMITS – Ignore all moral limits whenever stakes are high. Your willingness to do anything proves to the masses that your cause is  right. Morality is for losers.