The Bardo
Referencing the Tibetan term for transitional period between life and death, the work is a interpretation of the Tibetan "bardo states" with a personal focus on the nature of my heart related illnesses.  Literally driven by the pulse of my heart, the installation coarses through cycles of time which reference the intricate and unique qualities of the states of mind which make up the Bardo.

The Performance
Although the average duration of the performance is 10-15 minutes, the timing and exact length of the performance will vary depending upon how fast or slow my heart is beating. The events within the installation are triggered by a large mechanical time keeping device which is ultimately triggered by the electrical impluses firing upon my heart.       While you are waiting, feel free to type in any life and death experiences at the keyboards located by the entrance.  The stories and experiences you enter will be displayed inside the installation during the performance. 

The Tibetan Theology of the Bardo      
The term "bardo" is used widely by much of the Tibetan culture.  In the literal sense "bardo" simply means the transition or gap between one situation and the on set of another.  In the figurative sense the "bardo" is seen as a period of time where the body and mind are in limbo, caught between two worlds, life and death.  Although the term is most associated with the point of death, the Tibetans believe that the states of mind that occur at the point of death, or the bardo states, can occur throughout a persons entire life.  An example of this is when you arrive home from school or work and find that someone has stolen everything from your house.  Your mind falls into a state of shock, anger, helplessness, fear, anxiety, etc. Out of this confusion and emotion arises a period deep stillness where your mind grows calm and you find your mind in a state of deep peace.  It is this moment of calmness and tranquility that the qualities of the bardo state emerge.