Crawfish Boil, 2023

To encapsulate action, I sought to capture the essence of transient moments and the continuous flow of time. Action, to me, is a dynamic interplay between perception and movement—each shaping the other in an intricate dance. Inspired by the concept of Perception/Action coupling, this performance piece unfolded as a crawfish boil, a celebration of communal engagement.

In this project, I delved into the idea that actions can profoundly influence our perception of the environment. Much like the cracking open of a crawfish provides sensory feedback that informs the perception of flavor and texture, social interactions during the event shape our understanding of the social environment. The experience becomes a tapestry of emotions—excitement, anticipation, joy, frustration, disappointment—all woven into the social fabric of the event.

In this collaborative performance where every classmate played a vital role. The piece, inherently time-based, required a fusion of visual and auditory elements. Through choreographed sounds, utilizing contact microphones strategically placed, I aimed to create a sonic landscape that echoed the collaborative nature of the project. Instructions and records intermingled as classmates performed tasks ranging from bringing ingredients to documenting the event.

As I cooked the crawfish with the contributions of my peers, they engaged in a parallel experience—the game "fish bowl." This miniature social setting became a microcosm of Perception/Action coupling, exploring the nuances of emotion and sound. The game actively encouraged both verbal and non-verbal perception of movements and sounds, mirroring the larger theme of the project.

The crawfish boil, with its sensory richness and social dynamics, becomes a canvas where perceptions are shaped, actions are harmonized, and the ephemerality of time is celebrated through the collective creation of an unforgettable experience.