EMILY GARY


PANDER


Absurd manifestations of our relationship with nature



Concept statement
Pander is a mixed-media conceptual design project.
The project centers on a series of absurd physical products derived from an interrogation of the definition of natural in contemporary Western society.  The products are presented as part of a satirical business, Hypersolve Technologies, which leverages a highly subjective perspective of nature in order to fit their business needs.



The series

PERISCOPESEE WHAT’S RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU
Periscope is a device which helps the user see what is directly behind their phone without ever looking up from their screen.

MIRAGE
APPEAR IN SUNLIGHT
Mirage is a mobile phone case which requires the user to go outside each day to provide sunlight for the plant living on the phone.
YOUTHANIZE TAKE A DIP IN THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH
Youthanize is a mask that allows the user to experience the youthful benefits of nature while multi-tasking from the comfort of indoors.

CRYSTALLIZE
ELIMINATE UNCERTAINTY
Crystallize is an organizational system which reduces visual variability while adding green space to the home.




Pander is presented through dual perspectives


1 | MARKETABLE PRODUCTS

The primary perspective in the exhibition presents Pander as a breakthrough product from a satirical company, Hypersolve Technologies.


2 | ABSURD OBJECTS
The contrasting perspective in the exhibition presents Pander as physical manifestations of the absurd human relationship to nature.





1 | Hypersolve Technologies
From the lens of Hypersolve Technologies, Pander is a breakthrough series of products that has harnessed the power of nature to reduce inconvenience in contemporary life. 

The biased narrative of Hypersolve Technologies is showcased in the company-sponsored lifestyle publication, HyperAware Magazine.




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2 | The absurdity of nature

The contrasting perspective in Pander showcases the series as physical manifestations of the absurdity of the human relationship to nature. This relationship is characterized by four key absurdities:





Design process
KEY ELEMENTS OF A FICTIONAL WORLD
The list below provides an overview of the key experiential elements and design decisions that were most influential to Pander as a creative work. 
  • Absurdity. The absurdity of Hypersolve Technologies’ marketing and philosophical claims are absurd enough that Pander is intriguing at a multitude of depths.  This makes the critique more approachable by using curiosity and humor to garner initial audience attention.


  • Plausibility. Though the products and claims made by Hypersolve Technologies are absurd, they are within the realm of plausibility for an extrapolated future. This plausibility provides a bridge for the audience to connect their existing reality to the narrative world.


A word from the artist
Pander intends to bring to life an intriguing and amusing world that is a reflection of our own despite its absurdity. The narrative of Hypersolve Technologies serves as a metaphor for societal perceptions of nature and how we choose to grapple with the uncertain future of the human experience in a changing climate. Through playful critique, Pander challenges the audience to reflect on their relationship with nature and how our collective viewpoints ultimately influence the future of the human experience.


Detailed documentation of the creative process for Pander is available at the link below.


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