A Semi-Educational, Semi-Fun, Tragi-Comic Film + Series of Inter-Activities, “How To Make Friends In The Water" is about the mental and environmental blocks that keep us from connecting and thriving "in the water" especially if you weren’t taught to “swim” when young. Both the installations and the short film asks audiences to figuratively and literally jump in and question their own approach to living as well as the hierarchies of connection, which often puts platonic connections far below romantic and familial ones.
The short film, which is inspired by 1940s educational films from the U.S., follows the journey of Susie as she tries to learn about both the people and the water that surrounds her. Interactive elements include a beach proposal station where visitors pop the question “Will You Be My Friend?”, then they can have a consultation with The Friendship Lawyer™ with whom they can draw up a friendship contract, and finally they can make their way to the “Sands of Time: Sharing is Caring Reflection Hour” where they can contemplate how much time they have for this whole friendship thing anyway.
Beyond the games and playful vintage veneer, this project is at its core about the repercussions of not being properly socialized in a safe, loving environment, the maladaptive coping mechanisms we learn along the way, and the difficulties of having to teach yourself skills as an adult that you were supposed to learn as a child.
At QED, Symin will show her half hour film. After which we will discuss our feelings and fill out friendship contracts (non-legally binding, probably).
Supported by Queens Council on the Arts.
