Sarah Gordon discussed the experience of interacting with the contemporary artwork, Can't Help Myself, by Sun Yuan and Peng Yu
Interview Summary
This participant chose an artwork called, “Can’t Help Myself.” It is a machine that continuously has ink spilling out, and the machine tires to clean it up, despite more ink spilling out. When first made, the artwork was clean and was able to clean each spillage with ease. Today, it is rundown and rusted and ink is everywhere. This person says there is symbolism in how people break down over time. They chose this artwork because they feel it’s unique and something they have not seen before. The symbolism spoke to them because they can relate. They found this artwork through social media by themselves on their phone. While interacting with the artwork, they were thinking how amazing this artist was able to bring a feeling to life. They believe the artist intended for their work to impact people, but they still view people the same. They did not think about the work spiritually. This person was 15 or 16 when they first interacted with this artwork, and they perceive the quality to be high, in action, but low engineered. Their goal is to see how it worked and function, and enjoyed as it has a 3D element. This happened during their sophomore year of high school right before covid started.
Interview Transcript
Participant 21: This is the art piece. I saw this a few, I’m going to sat like two years ago on TikTok. And then I looked it up because I thought the concept was really interesting.
It's called Can't Help Myself, and you can't see it in action right now. But how it works is that there's always ink spilling out of the machine, and it will work continually for twenty-four hours, and just try to clean everything. It will keep trying to restore it to how it first looked, and it's been doing that for years. It's dirty now,
It's getting older, and it moves slowly, slowly, and then, when it first started it moved really fast and was full of life, that's what people said, and I don't remember, like the symbolism. But I think it's really symbolic about how some people just break down over time.
I don't know It's just how motivation is lost over time. But you're still picking at it. I thought it was a really cool piece, though I can try to find a video if you want.
I think it could also be, it keeps spilling, and you're trying to like, clean it up, but you can, so it's like overwhelming. And then you can't get over the fact that it like. I think that's why it's like I can't help myself like That's the name of it of I’m trying, But I just I can't do it.
Interviewer: Oh, okay, that's cool. I like it. Okay, that's really interesting. So why did you choose this one?
Participant 21: Why? Because I just thought it was like very unique, and something I haven't seen before. It's not a standard piece that I would see in any art museum near me, and it the symbolism behind it to spoke to me because I've seen people in my life that like feel like this sometimes, and I felt like this. Sometimes it like you keeps trying to pick up the pieces that are still falling, and it's just not going to work. And I just thought it was really cool. How an artist was able to,
conceptualize that.
Process of Creation
What led up to its creation? What motivated you to create it?
38
00:04:09.340 --> 00:04:22.669
Interviewer: Yeah, okay, I like that. Yeah, I'm just now. Going to ask you some questions about the experience, and how the process was with interacting with it. So
So, what led up to the interaction, and what motivated you to explore that?
Participant 21: What motivated me was I was on. Yeah, I was TikTok. I was on to talk about two years ago, and I saw a video of this, and it had said music, and I was like, what is this? Because I thought it was just like a machine piece. I like an engineering factory or something, and I was really intrigued because all the comments are like. Oh, my gosh! It's so sad because everyone in the comments was talking about the piece like it was human, and I was like, what is this? So, I looked it up.
I was like, Oh, my gosh! This is so cool! And I discovered, like this robotic arm thing that like kept trying to pull the oil back in, and I could see how people were relating it to being almost human. And I just thought it was really cool, almost human.
Interviewer: So, you said TikTok. So where did the experience happen? And who was involved with you if anyone?
Participant 21: I don't think anyone was involved with me. I was probably just on my phone scrolling for your take back if that's what you mean. Like where I was scrolling on TikTok, and I just happen to find it because my For You Page is very random.
Interviewer: I feel that. What were you thinking and feeling at the different times throughout the process of interacting with the artwork?
Participant 21: I was thinking. Wow! I can't believe somebody was able to bring a feeling to life, because I know this is the feeling a lot of people have or have experience, and I always think it's really cool when an artist can bring a feeling to live, especially when it's been like very well received, because I've seen It's covered on many media outlets now, and a lot of people have heard of it, apparently, and I just keep ending my sentences with I think it's cool, but I think it's cool
Interviewer: no, I think so too. Can you describe any high points, low points, or challenges that you had along the way, if you had any.
Participant 21: I don't think I think High Point was just like admiring that somebody is creative enough to make this, and then a low point would just be like a brief moment of self-reflection into like, damn! I've related to this before, but other than that, I think it's because I can't see it in person, probably, but after reading a little bit about it. I was like, Wow, that's interesting.
Interviewer: So, what did you learn from the process of interacting with your words, and if that like, if you learn anything about yourself?
Participant 21: I've learned I don't know how to like to describe this, but I've learned that sometimes life does look like this, granted not with like a giant robot arm. But sometimes life can look like you're falling apart, and this is from all sides. You're just falling apart, and you're scrambling to pick yourself back up.
And I think this art piece shows that no matter how much you try, sometimes it's just It's not meant to be like that. There's always a, like you can't be perfect. There's always a part that might be on the floor or scrambled somewhere, and you have to find acceptance with yourself, I guess if I’m thinking about it very literally.
Interviewer: Do you think the or it is intended to work to affect others or the world in any particular way?
Participant 21: I definitely think it's meant to have like an effect on people, and I definitely think it has already. I think it's like up for your interpretation, too, because art is very relative.
Yeah, I think this speaks to a lot of people.
Interviewer: Yeah, that makes sense. I can see that happening.
Did your experience affect your understanding of others or “the world?
Participant 21: Maybe others like. When you look around, you can look at their situation and see if they're okay in that sense. Yes. But also, I still view people like the same.
Interviewer: Yeah. Okay. So, when some people think about themselves, they see some parts of themselves as deeply true, real, or authentic.
If this idea resonates with you, did you learn anything about your true nature during the process? Did you have any insights about your own authentic (or inauthentic) self?
Participant 21: I would say, Yeah, I don't think I thought about it when I first saw it, but when you think about what the piece is supposed to mean, I’d say yes, because when I was younger, probably in high school, I used to scramble over to people please, and always like help people, because I want it to be liked and I like that.
I kind of felt that I was falling apart in every which way, and still trying to fake myself back up so like I feel like a lot of people, including myself, can relate to that at some point in their lives.
Interviewer: Yeah, okay, some people believe in ultimate meaning. This is defined as deep, underlying meaning that transcends subjective, personal meaning. It is about the nature of existence and identity, and it may include ideas about the significance of suffering, as well as spirituality.
If this idea resonates with you, did you learn anything about ultimate meaning during the process?
Participant 21: I think I guess I don't think in terms of spiritual meeting. No, I definitely think there could be some, I think, I guess, when I analyze that I just took on all literal meanings I was like Oh, yes, I see exactly how this goes in my life.
I didn't really think about it spiritually.
Interviewer: Some people believe or perceive a reality beyond the physical or material world. This may include religious beliefs/experiences (such as perceived interactions with God) but also may include mystical or transcendent experiences, or interaction with spirits.
Did you have any of these kinds of experiences during the creation of the artwork?
Participant 21: Not during the interaction, and that might have just been because it was such a brief interaction.
Interviewer: Okay, I'm almost done with the questions. So, yay! So how old were you when this happened?
Participant 21: I say, like fifteen or sixteen
Interviewer: And how do you perceive the quality of the work?
Participant 21: I think that's a really high quality. Seeing it in action, I think it was engineered really low.
Interviewer: Okay, what goals, if any did you have for interacting with the artwork?
Participant 21: My goal is to see how it worked and function because I was really confused. Why, everyone was sobbing over this little robotic arm, and I don't know.
No, I see the hype, and if I ever find myself, I don't know where this is. The Guggenheim Museum, if I ever find myself over there, I'd want to see it in person. I guess that'd be my new goal.
Interviewer: Okay, yeah that is really nice.
What is it about this artwork that distinguish it from others, or what makes it special?
Participant 21: I tend to like my sculpture pieces because I like the 3D element, and I think that's what drew me to it, too. It's a 3D installation. You can just really see it. It's not 2D on the wall, and it moves. It's meant to move. And I think that's cool.
Interviewer: Yeah, it's not like the usual thing.
Participant 21: Yeah, it's not what you would expect to see.
Interviewer: Okay, Yeah, that makes sense.
Was there anything particularly meaningful about the artwork or interacting with the artwork?
Participant 21: I think the most meaningful thing is this name, that it's Can't Help Myself. I think that describes it really well. And I think that describes the meanings behind it. Really. Well,
What was going on in your life around the time that you interacted with your work?
144
00:15:46.770 --> 00:15:56.909
Interviewer: okay, I have a last question. What was going on in your life around the time that you interacted with your work?
Participant 21: I'm going to say my sophomore year of high school. But before March, because March was Covid.
This participant chose an artwork called, “Can’t Help Myself.” It is a machine that continuously has ink spilling out, and the machine tires to clean it up, despite more ink spilling out. When first made, the artwork was clean and was able to clean each spillage with ease. Today, it is rundown and rusted and ink is everywhere. This person says there is symbolism in how people break down over time. They chose this artwork because they feel it’s unique and something they have not seen before. The symbolism spoke to them because they can relate. They found this artwork through social media by themselves on their phone. While interacting with the artwork, they were thinking how amazing this artist was able to bring a feeling to life. They believe the artist intended for their work to impact people, but they still view people the same. They did not think about the work spiritually. This person was 15 or 16 when they first interacted with this artwork, and they perceive the quality to be high, in action, but low engineered. Their goal is to see how it worked and function, and enjoyed as it has a 3D element. This happened during their sophomore year of high school right before covid started.
Interview Transcript
Participant 21: This is the art piece. I saw this a few, I’m going to sat like two years ago on TikTok. And then I looked it up because I thought the concept was really interesting.
It's called Can't Help Myself, and you can't see it in action right now. But how it works is that there's always ink spilling out of the machine, and it will work continually for twenty-four hours, and just try to clean everything. It will keep trying to restore it to how it first looked, and it's been doing that for years. It's dirty now,
It's getting older, and it moves slowly, slowly, and then, when it first started it moved really fast and was full of life, that's what people said, and I don't remember, like the symbolism. But I think it's really symbolic about how some people just break down over time.
I don't know It's just how motivation is lost over time. But you're still picking at it. I thought it was a really cool piece, though I can try to find a video if you want.
I think it could also be, it keeps spilling, and you're trying to like, clean it up, but you can, so it's like overwhelming. And then you can't get over the fact that it like. I think that's why it's like I can't help myself like That's the name of it of I’m trying, But I just I can't do it.
Interviewer: Oh, okay, that's cool. I like it. Okay, that's really interesting. So why did you choose this one?
Participant 21: Why? Because I just thought it was like very unique, and something I haven't seen before. It's not a standard piece that I would see in any art museum near me, and it the symbolism behind it to spoke to me because I've seen people in my life that like feel like this sometimes, and I felt like this. Sometimes it like you keeps trying to pick up the pieces that are still falling, and it's just not going to work. And I just thought it was really cool. How an artist was able to,
conceptualize that.
Process of Creation
What led up to its creation? What motivated you to create it?
38
00:04:09.340 --> 00:04:22.669
Interviewer: Yeah, okay, I like that. Yeah, I'm just now. Going to ask you some questions about the experience, and how the process was with interacting with it. So
So, what led up to the interaction, and what motivated you to explore that?
Participant 21: What motivated me was I was on. Yeah, I was TikTok. I was on to talk about two years ago, and I saw a video of this, and it had said music, and I was like, what is this? Because I thought it was just like a machine piece. I like an engineering factory or something, and I was really intrigued because all the comments are like. Oh, my gosh! It's so sad because everyone in the comments was talking about the piece like it was human, and I was like, what is this? So, I looked it up.
I was like, Oh, my gosh! This is so cool! And I discovered, like this robotic arm thing that like kept trying to pull the oil back in, and I could see how people were relating it to being almost human. And I just thought it was really cool, almost human.
Interviewer: So, you said TikTok. So where did the experience happen? And who was involved with you if anyone?
Participant 21: I don't think anyone was involved with me. I was probably just on my phone scrolling for your take back if that's what you mean. Like where I was scrolling on TikTok, and I just happen to find it because my For You Page is very random.
Interviewer: I feel that. What were you thinking and feeling at the different times throughout the process of interacting with the artwork?
Participant 21: I was thinking. Wow! I can't believe somebody was able to bring a feeling to life, because I know this is the feeling a lot of people have or have experience, and I always think it's really cool when an artist can bring a feeling to live, especially when it's been like very well received, because I've seen It's covered on many media outlets now, and a lot of people have heard of it, apparently, and I just keep ending my sentences with I think it's cool, but I think it's cool
Interviewer: no, I think so too. Can you describe any high points, low points, or challenges that you had along the way, if you had any.
Participant 21: I don't think I think High Point was just like admiring that somebody is creative enough to make this, and then a low point would just be like a brief moment of self-reflection into like, damn! I've related to this before, but other than that, I think it's because I can't see it in person, probably, but after reading a little bit about it. I was like, Wow, that's interesting.
Interviewer: So, what did you learn from the process of interacting with your words, and if that like, if you learn anything about yourself?
Participant 21: I've learned I don't know how to like to describe this, but I've learned that sometimes life does look like this, granted not with like a giant robot arm. But sometimes life can look like you're falling apart, and this is from all sides. You're just falling apart, and you're scrambling to pick yourself back up.
And I think this art piece shows that no matter how much you try, sometimes it's just It's not meant to be like that. There's always a, like you can't be perfect. There's always a part that might be on the floor or scrambled somewhere, and you have to find acceptance with yourself, I guess if I’m thinking about it very literally.
Interviewer: Do you think the or it is intended to work to affect others or the world in any particular way?
Participant 21: I definitely think it's meant to have like an effect on people, and I definitely think it has already. I think it's like up for your interpretation, too, because art is very relative.
Yeah, I think this speaks to a lot of people.
Interviewer: Yeah, that makes sense. I can see that happening.
Did your experience affect your understanding of others or “the world?
Participant 21: Maybe others like. When you look around, you can look at their situation and see if they're okay in that sense. Yes. But also, I still view people like the same.
Interviewer: Yeah. Okay. So, when some people think about themselves, they see some parts of themselves as deeply true, real, or authentic.
If this idea resonates with you, did you learn anything about your true nature during the process? Did you have any insights about your own authentic (or inauthentic) self?
Participant 21: I would say, Yeah, I don't think I thought about it when I first saw it, but when you think about what the piece is supposed to mean, I’d say yes, because when I was younger, probably in high school, I used to scramble over to people please, and always like help people, because I want it to be liked and I like that.
I kind of felt that I was falling apart in every which way, and still trying to fake myself back up so like I feel like a lot of people, including myself, can relate to that at some point in their lives.
Interviewer: Yeah, okay, some people believe in ultimate meaning. This is defined as deep, underlying meaning that transcends subjective, personal meaning. It is about the nature of existence and identity, and it may include ideas about the significance of suffering, as well as spirituality.
If this idea resonates with you, did you learn anything about ultimate meaning during the process?
Participant 21: I think I guess I don't think in terms of spiritual meeting. No, I definitely think there could be some, I think, I guess, when I analyze that I just took on all literal meanings I was like Oh, yes, I see exactly how this goes in my life.
I didn't really think about it spiritually.
Interviewer: Some people believe or perceive a reality beyond the physical or material world. This may include religious beliefs/experiences (such as perceived interactions with God) but also may include mystical or transcendent experiences, or interaction with spirits.
Did you have any of these kinds of experiences during the creation of the artwork?
Participant 21: Not during the interaction, and that might have just been because it was such a brief interaction.
Interviewer: Okay, I'm almost done with the questions. So, yay! So how old were you when this happened?
Participant 21: I say, like fifteen or sixteen
Interviewer: And how do you perceive the quality of the work?
Participant 21: I think that's a really high quality. Seeing it in action, I think it was engineered really low.
Interviewer: Okay, what goals, if any did you have for interacting with the artwork?
Participant 21: My goal is to see how it worked and function because I was really confused. Why, everyone was sobbing over this little robotic arm, and I don't know.
No, I see the hype, and if I ever find myself, I don't know where this is. The Guggenheim Museum, if I ever find myself over there, I'd want to see it in person. I guess that'd be my new goal.
Interviewer: Okay, yeah that is really nice.
What is it about this artwork that distinguish it from others, or what makes it special?
Participant 21: I tend to like my sculpture pieces because I like the 3D element, and I think that's what drew me to it, too. It's a 3D installation. You can just really see it. It's not 2D on the wall, and it moves. It's meant to move. And I think that's cool.
Interviewer: Yeah, it's not like the usual thing.
Participant 21: Yeah, it's not what you would expect to see.
Interviewer: Okay, Yeah, that makes sense.
Was there anything particularly meaningful about the artwork or interacting with the artwork?
Participant 21: I think the most meaningful thing is this name, that it's Can't Help Myself. I think that describes it really well. And I think that describes the meanings behind it. Really. Well,
What was going on in your life around the time that you interacted with your work?
144
00:15:46.770 --> 00:15:56.909
Interviewer: okay, I have a last question. What was going on in your life around the time that you interacted with your work?
Participant 21: I'm going to say my sophomore year of high school. But before March, because March was Covid.
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