The Species Known & Other Beings
Martyn Myer Arena, 2021
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/87e3eb825a80df632182c4c4f85d16dd88c8170cc6963427a638978c348cfb6d/Jen_Valender_Distilled-dissonance_still_IMG2_Christo-Crocker.jpg)
Three-channel colour projection, Keaton Fly, after Gordon detail, installation view, Melbourne. Photo: ALEC.
In the lecture-performance Distilled Dissonance: the species known & other beings I surface the discontent experienced from using once living beings—moths and flies—as material for art making. Within the lecture I unpack the theory “cross-dissonance” to describe intrapersonal arts research conflicts and to address the following question: how can using insects in artwork be harnessed to surface ethical grey areas? In the performance I reimagine and analyse my own lecture content by layering artworks apprehended in mid-development.
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/2525a714fb161026cc2602a298f8b7af5650b60711032c70537cb1eb6fbf49e8/Zizek-from-perspective-of-fly.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/8935a6fa061e0bdc25cc307cf7c707d0e13cf6d50b7148e30474d060cf8706b7/Install-shot-Played-as-they-Lay-within-Disstilled-dissonance-Jen-Valender-copy.jpg)
November, 2021