I can be someone else - 2018

Digital video, running time 09:11

The popularity of video games and comics with youth, and an emphasis on violent content and negative imagery was the motivation behind the creation of thisfilm. The narrative has been re-represented from a comic (All you need is kill based on the novel by Hiroshi Sakwazaka).The artist has deliberately

modified aspects of the actual story in the comic and presented it in the form of a non interactive video game style film, using new and existing dialogue and a parallel plot of war with spiritual teachings from the book ‘Bhagavad-Gītā as it is,’ a translation and commentary of the Bhagavad Gita, by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.

Empathy, conflict resolution and stages of consciousness are central themes of the work.The aim is to promote an increase in compassion, limit aggression and motivate pro-social behaviour. 

The Film: Set in current times, it is teenager (Ryan's) struggle with war gaming addiction and his crisis with slipping into his game avatar (Rita's) personality in real life. Ryan's close friend (Ariel), who encourages him to visit the Krishna temple in Auckland wants his friend to get better, however Ryan's brother (Zack) is no help as he himself is a gaming guru. Ryan's constant personality shifts have

created a state of confusion, while he recognises his need to get better, and notices many Déjà vu moments at the temple, as his higher consciousness is always in flash back of spiritual teachings from the ancient Indian epic Mahabharata, and its warfare from a different time in the past.

Viewers are shown a single screen with multiple communication, like the comic box, the flash back box, thought pop ups and the actual dialogues of characters, which Rewa describes as an act of chaos - an attempt to replicate the nature of the digital world we are exposed to. It is a video piece that invites viewers to take time to reect and put the jigsaw puzzles together. 

Rewa Walia

Curator (Rewa Gallery)