Hypnic (2017), live performance approximately 4 minutes. Photo: Vanessa Godden

A hypnic jerk is a sudden inexplicable twitch or sensation of falling when drifting off to sleep, often accompanied by a rapid heartbeat and sweating. The barriers between dreaming and waking, between what is desired and what is real are gently dissolved in this performance artwork.

A small sculptural costume sings about its transitional state of existence, with the artist later joining them in a harmonious duet. The mouth and voice of the artist is doubled, creating a corporeal intensity that is both simple and indeterminate.




Hypnic (2017), live performance approximately 4 minutes. Fourth rendition, Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, 22 March 2018. Photos: Jacqui Shelton.


First rendition, Victorian College of the Arts, 22 March 2017.
Second rendition, Trocadero Art Space, 30 August 2017.
Third rendition, Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, 24 February 2018.
Fourth rendition, Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, 22 March 2018.
Fifth rendition, Artspace Sydney, 26 September 2018.