I am interested in systems – be it religious, corporate or any structural institution – as they inform the basis of an experience. A cult is the ultimate form of devotion to a system. It is all-consuming. There is no middle of the road or dipping a toe in. I found this to be an interesting premise to start thinking about conveying a vast array of discombobulated ideas.

‘I’m done’ has a finality attached to its broad understanding. It’s the finality, the end of the road that interested me in the name. When I was thinking about the theology of the cult, I needed a simple banner to bring everything together and make it seem like it makes sense, as it truly makes no sense at all.

This was an interesting process. I always wanted to start the whole idea from the point of knowing that I was developing a con. The concept of a belief system created out of an intention that is impure to begin with and then open it up for interpretation and development beyond its original intention. The way this developed as an artistic idea culminated in the development of a visual language that looked at techniques I had used in the past but incorporating elements from my research into the communication languages of cults. This involved communicating an idea both directly and creating an environment of interest and further discovery.

Jim Jones defines the fundamental corruption of a good cause or idea that is altered by megalomania and the overwhelming strength of an ego. The People’s Temple and Jim Jones started out as a Christian, communist movement that had racial equality at its root. For me, the proof of where this movement could have gone was when Jim Jones received the Martin Luther King Jr Humanitarian award in 1977. I found myself interested in the ideas and belief system of The People’s Temple, where Christianity was used as a form of liberation. I have always had an issue with forced beliefs without a questioning of the given beliefs, but I have had a soft spot or a bit of a blind spot when a belief system is used for the liberation of oppressed people. This conflict of hope and despair feels true to a general human experience of following a belief system to better understand our own experience.

This started with different industrial processes that are used in mass communication, like techniques of production used in signage, postcards and pamphlets. A lot of the times, these techniques are based on a kind of gimmick to attract the eye to something it has not seen before. I used thermoformed plastic signage, lenticular printing technique and merchandise and transformed them into the bases for the artworks. With all these techniques, I created a formal visual language using repetition in the source references so as to have a cohesive overview.

Everything I do is informed by my fundamental belief in the philosophy of bullshit. That is then put through the filter of a joke, in particular a one-liner. So as to refine something utterly ridiculous into its most minimal delusion. So the idea of vagueness is used to leave everything open for interpretation and force the links and connections between the various subjects up to the viewer. In general, there is no right or wrong connection, just an interpretation of a journey through a lot of bullshit.

My research process always starts with a couple of headings: the source, the history, the body, the mind, the journey. Then, over time, I start filling in the chapters with information, which comes from all sources – books, the Internet, etc. My research technique is very fluid and unfocused, one thing leads to another and then, after a certain time, I drastically edit my information into an infographic type of language which then forms the basis of physical works.

I grew up in communities, so I have always been interested in the psychology of group environments. I have worked through a lot of my understandings of the environment through therapy, but I have always wanted to understand the techniques used to manipulate people – learning and studying things such as pluralistic ignorance, the Abilene paradox, emotional contagion and groupthink. It was an interesting process because, unbeknown to me at the time, I started actioning some of these manipulative techniques. Eventually, I caught myself and had to re-evaluate how invested I was in my research.

The whole environment of the exhibition is designed to be welcoming, from the wall colour to the warm light. So I just want people to be confusedly happy.

This has as much to do with being part of something, but it’s mainly about an economic inclusion. Art is generally viewed as an elitist world, so by giving away works for free, it opens up the experience to a wider audience and gives them the chance to feel included. So, basically, manipulating people with free shit.

Yes, going to sleep for a bit, and then I am working on a movie. I don’t like people enough to start a real cult, so that’s a no.