www.evaleestudio.com
Fulbright to India 2013-2014

Purchase instructions: email info@fulbright.org with artist name & details of art piece

As an artist, I am inspired by the nature of mind and reality. This moved me to embark on Fulbright U.S. Scholar Research 2013-14 in India’s Western Himalayas where a historic transmission of Buddhism from India to Tibet occurred in the 10th–12th centuries. The aim of my project, “Indo-Tibetan Mandalas: Blueprints for Discovering the Nature of Mind and Reality,” was to learn more about Buddhist visual culture and philosophy of mind. I wanted to understand the importance of ancient and contemporary mandalas for meditation, mental training and inquiry.

Following this research, I created an experimental film, Betwixt, and six video documentaries, of which Tabo Monastery Tsug Lhakhang is presented here. My Fulbright research continues to influence my experimental work today. Dual Brains is a real-time EEG data-driven performance inspired by scientific studies of human neural interdependence. Fulbright research has also ignited my current interest in exploring the well-documented Buddhist model of mind, and its application to neural computation in the future of artificial intelligence. I currently seek collaboration with technologists through dialogue and experimentation. I welcome hearing from a computer science researcher or developer, for example, who is curious about this idea (contact me). In the meantime, I am working on a Shadow Series of new experimental animations.

Betwixt (Trailer)
2015, video, 5 min 7 sec
Found adventures and forgotten homes, between dreams of departures and arrivals. Filmed during Fulbright U.S. Scholar Research 2013-14 on Buddhist mandalas and philosophy of mind, India, Western Himalayas.

Tabo Monastery Tsug Lhakhang
2015, video documentary, 7 min 46 sec.

See the interior of this rare 10th century Buddhist temple located in Spiti, India, Western Himalayas. Filmed during Fulbright U.S. Scholar Research 2013-14 on Buddhist mandalas and philosophy of mind. One of six documentaries completed, five of which are part of the Columbia University Tibetan Studies Library in New York City, USA; the Library of Tibetan Works & Archives in Dharamsala, India.

Dual Brains
2016, real-time EEG brain data-driven performance, 4 min 35 sec
Inspired by neuroscience research which indicates that human brains are fundamentally hard wired for empathy, especially under conditions of duress in which holding hands helps to reduce stress. The performers’ EEG data is visually presented while they focus their minds on emotionally charged memories, first without physical contact and then while holding hands. Sound created from EEG and ECG data. Performance duration, 3 minutes.
This project aims to create dialogue about the wonderful social implications of neural interdependence through an artistic experience. Conceived for Art-A-Hack collaboration and led by Eva Lee. With custom EEG headgear and sound by Aaron Trocola, OpenBCI programming and production by Gabe Ibagon, projected visuals by artists Pat Shiu and Gal Nissim.

Shadow Series Sketch 1

2021, video, 32 sec,

Part of a new series of experimental animation video sketches, exploring shadows.

Sojourners (Trailer)

2021, video, 2 min 14 sec

“The world is mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful.” –e. e. cummings

Sojourners reflecting temporary, wandering, riveting, living nature.