Remembering to Forget | By Juan Zaldivar (aka. Violenta Flores)
“Thinking outside the box' is actually how boxes think. That is the dream of the box. To transcend 'the box' we need to encounter it as if for the first time... Maybe when we touch the corrugated surfaces and grooves and depths of this so-called box, we will be touched back by something we presently have no name for. And maybe that makes all the difference in the world.” - Bayo Akomalafe
Photograph by by Juan Zaldivar.
Our project Variety Reinspires started with an R&D Wavemaker grant and is reaching implementation thanks to Locust Projects continued support and other grants.
I am / we are a filmmaker and visual artist walking the dementia journey with my mother.
Our project, Variety Reinspires, began as an exploration of how VR (virtual reality) technology might be able to alleviate isolation among aging seniors, one of the sectors of our society who suffers the largest loss of liberties as they age. More than 50% of seniors will experience depression and isolation in their living conditions presently in the US. Our project became more relevant with the onset of the Covid-19 global pandemic because suddenly, seniors were isolated even more than they already are.
Photograph by by Juan Zaldivar.
As I myself became isolated with my mother, I realized that senior isolation is actually a cultural and systemic issue. It is especially difficult for people living with dementia but also for their caregivers. So much in our culture starts with "I," (i-this, i-that). We subconsciously message younger generations to prioritize their own lives over other lives. Consequently, we have normalized delegating the care of our elders to medical facilities and non-family members. We perceive that caring for others will demand that we put our own lives on hold.
How does Art-making fit in all this?
For one, understanding the difference between intuitive thought vs. logical/deductive thought is something that comes naturally to most artists. As you will learn in our project, this is a principal skill in reframing how we see things like dementia, which is a blanket term caused by many different conditions and diseases. In addition, exploring the relationship of natural and artificial constructions is at the core of my work because it often spins other relevant questions about our humanity. We want to change the script on dementia and aging from taking about the skills that are lost to the skills that remain.
Photograph by by Juan Zaldivar.
In virtual reality (VR or 360º video) one can look around inside a video giving us the illusion of "being there" because the video is not just a square frame but rather a 3D sphere. VR has recently been approved by the Center for Disease Control in the US for the treatment of chronic pain and also to treat Lazy Eye syndrome. Through my experiments I have found other creative ways in which VR-- which happens to also be the newest iteration of moving images-- improved the communication and understanding of what my mother is experiencing in her present state. I want to share these findings while I wait to get access to senior homes, so I began to produce a limited series podcast highlighting the work of trailblazer authors, field researchers, and musicologists whose methodologies have made a huge difference in my mother’s quality of life and in my caregiving methods. Things like labeling doors; acknowledging muscle memory and the formidable power of music to allow people who supposedly have 'no memory' to remember the lyrics to their favorite songs.
Photograph by by Juan Zaldivar.
How can you help?
We want to build 5 traveling VR kits to give to senior care facilities. The kits can be used immediately by staff because they require no special training.
Expensify.org has offered to reimburse 50% of every item people buy for our VR kits up to $5,000 USD. To volunteer, simply scan/photograph your purchase receipt. Register for free & submit your receipt here: tinyurl.com/contributeVR
Visit VarietyReinspires.com/contribute.html to purchase items and please share with anyone who may be interested to volunteer. All items are $175 or less when you factor the 50% refund.
Still from Shift by Juan Zaldivar
Today, every 66 seconds someone is diagnosed with dementia but in less than ten years (by 2030) there will be a diagnosis every 33 seconds. Dementia is not going away. Humans may be living longer but life will always end. Let's build a more just, inclusive, and sustainable society; particularly, for those who depend on others for care. Together, we can age with dignity and stay in the company of those we love as we age.
Grateful to have this opportunity,
Violenta Flores (aka Juan Carlos Zaldivar)
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Juan Carlos Zaldivar (aka. Violenta Flores) is a filmmaker and artist working at the intersection of new technologies and social impact. They are walking the dementia journey with their mother. He completed both a BFA and a Masters of Fine Arts at New York University"s Tisch School of the Arts. Produced a feature-length art film with the support of La Biennale di Venezia College Cinema 2019, the Sundance Writers Lab and Locarno Open Doors. Zaldivar is currently completing a VR community screening project to mitigate the effects of isolation during the Covid-19 epidemic on seniors with the support of The Warhol Foundation through Locust Projects in Miami, Oolite Arts, and other grants.