by Gavati Wad
1. Guide yourself to a space like the one in your dreams.
You know the one. It transforms into whatever you need it to be. You feel safe there, most times. In an instant the lights are dim and you begin to sweat. And in another, you find yourself by a gentle stream with only the sound of the water to interrupt your thoughts. There are things you leave there hoping you will never see them again. And then there are things you cannot find anywhere else but there. Take yourself to that place.
2. Think about who you would meet there.
Who do you hope to meet? The friend you lost. Your dog. Your grandmother. The young lady from the YouTube channel you sunk into when your mind was troubled. The woman on the news you look at everyday. Her hair has grown whiter since you started watching. The children.
3. Think about what you would say to them.
Would you say anything? Can they hear you? Will you tell them you love them? Will they?
Prepare one thing to say to whoever you hope to meet.
4. Look for an activity you have been wanting to do.
Fold your clothes, chop vegetables, comb your hair, water the plants or just sit down and close your eyes.
About the Artist
Gavati Wad is an artist and filmmaker from India, currently based in Pune. Gavati works primarily with 16mm celluloid using both a camera and cameraless techniques to generate sound and image. Her work responds to tropes and standards present in commercial media practices, including those of the photo studio, television broadcasting and political propaganda. She is interested in questions of identity in contexts such as gender and the nation-state and explores cultural interpretations of scientific phenomena. She received her MFA in Film/Video from the California Institute of the Arts.