Life of the Machine

Working predominantly in photography and sculptural mediums, Síocháin Hughes has been exploring the theme of lives behind objects and locations. The Life of the Machine is a series of photographs that represent a single subject—a tractor—and relates lives the tractor has touched from a “felt” standpoint without the artist’s awareness of anecdotes or other tangible information. Not unlike the way a psychic would “intuit” a presence, prior to working with her subject, the artist established a deep connection with the subject through meditation. “I was in a rural environment, far from my typical urban subject matter at the time. I was given an assignment by Zen master, John Daido Loori to locate my subject by tuning-in to myself deeply enough that I would be able to hear its ‘call.’ Over each of several days a dilapidated tractor ‘called’ and was my photographic subject.” The Zen master gave specific instructions to pay attention to the ebb and flow of creative energy. He explained that the flow was not just within oneself, but actually flowing between the artist and the subject. When the subject was ready, he suggested that the artist would feel that communication from the subject, and should begin. When the energy had passed, he suggested that the artist should acknowledge that passing and thank the subject, recognizing the special connection that had taken place.

While the location of the actual tractor photographed, was not Paterson, NJ, the Life of the Machine series forms an important conceptual underpinning for the project Great Falls Continuum, in that it establishes the possibility that something can be sensed beyond a tangible object or site, and even beyond a photograph of the object or site. In fact, the entire project is unnecessary to prove this—you can feel it for yourself.

— Síocháin Hughes