TRUTH 1994 - View of the TRUTH SUITE, Thread Waxing Space.To lay, or perhaps to lie... Introducing Carol Irving.
In my continuing efforts to expand the possiblities of living with original works of art, I bring you the polygraph bedspread. The one pictured here is one of only 4 such artifacts; a development of artist Carol Irving's investigations into truth-telling and lying over the past 10 years.
Polygraph Bedspread - 86 x 86, queen size.
Installation view with 5 polygraph charts: Dirty, Damaged, Denial, Guilty, Sneaky. 1996
These investigations began in 1994 when Irving set up "shop" with her Truth Suite (above), an installation she created at the Threadwaxing space in NYC. Here she administered polygraph tests to viewers/volunteers, providing them with a choice of question menus - Dirty, Damaged, Denial, Guilty, Sneaky.
The Polygrapher
Color photograph from the TRUTH 1995 Series
Polygraph Bedspread Detail - Dirty Menu Polygraph ChartIrving designs the menus of questions and these are as much the work of art as the printed polygraph charts.
Polygraph Bedspread - Detail of colored embroideryFor this installation, the results of the polygraph tests were fed into an embroidery machine, which in turn generated the stitched bedspreads.
Polygraph Bedspread - Installation view, right edge
Detail of Polygraph BedspreadIrving is not always the polygrapher... she also creates work as the test-taker, examining her own psyche with this mechanized lie-detecting tool. In her video installation, "Bearing Truth" she examines the relationship of nakedness and vulnerability to truthfulness.
Bearing Truth 2003, Video Installation Still - AngerThe video tracks her progress through a series of polygraph tests, administered as she removes her clothing, one layer at a time until she is naked and the supposed "truth" at last revealed.
As in a real lie detector test, the results are open to interpretation.
Bearing Truth 2003, Video installation, Installation view of monitor and printed polygraphs"Do you believe in magic in a young girl's heart?"
I find these printed "answers" very ambiguous, and very beautiful.
Inquiries? Please contact the artist directly via email.
Very cool, I love the idea of these performative types of work that result in pieces...the bedspread is a little bit of brilliance - especially the idea of sleeping under the weight of conscience.
thanks!
This is very creative and original. This creation would cause one to pause about the amount of truth and lies in our society. thought provoking.
Dear Carol, congratulations yet again on a marvelous idea--the web is a great way to get your work and thoughts out into the world. We need your art. Thank you a lot. Whether public or private, lies/truth are deep subjects and your investigations are deep too. love from Flora
Great Carol. Never enough said about truth and lies. Fantastic concept.
I love the idea of functional art. Are you working in that direction at all?
I was scrolling and reading and looking and trying to imagine the texture of the fabric of a bed spread and heard myself say "Oh my G-d" in a shudder of "truths" and "lies" on a bedspread we lie on or under.... slipping into BED of all things, a brilliant THE brilliant object to strip away the structures of distance and privacy...
carol- i have been very curious to see your work. so glad i got a small glimpse here. i would love to see the whole series in full living breathing color. congratulations!!! powerful issues that we all battle with here.
Carol is just producing amazing work, so inventive.