And Awake

A moving image compilation

Through the use of ani-

mated figure drawings, black and
white film, and digital video, the
viewer is guided through an
abstract exploration of a frag-
mented world no longer subject
to the conventional day, but
rather days, that marked
between sleep, can no longer fit
into the regular world. Thus,
the insomniac’s conflict begins.

iby Michael Simons

Photograph

Simon

by Michael Simons

I live downtown where the streets never really quiet. The
skaters clack along on their boards throughout the long, dark night,
: to the annoyance of the neighbors who complain of insomnia caused
by this activity. I have pointed out to them that to object to noise in
a big city is ridiculous, that what really keeps them awake (isn’t-actu-
ally the noise itself) but rather their indignation that anyone can be
so thoughtless.

Revelations are the stuff of night and sorrow, despair,
dreams, and passions. We all have bad nights, our dark hours of the
soul, heart palpitations, chilled sweats, and night terrors. But insom-
nia is special, perversely romantic and regrettably addictive. It
becomes the most selfish of worlds, known by most but only
explored by a few.

There are three different types of chronic insomniacs: the
ones who can’t get to sleep, those who can’t stay asleep and continue
to wake up all night long, and some who wake up twenty minutes
after they go to bed and can’t sleep again. I dabble in each of the
disorders but seem to have excelled in the first, not being able to fall
asleep at all.

If I can get myself to bed before midnight....If I don’t
drink....If I lull myself with a safe book, one listless of meaning, void
of negative thought or introspective associations that cause me to
reflect....If I take a couple of aspirins and the phone remains
silent...If I don’t have a deadline or a romance in mind. I have a
shot at sleep. Then all I have to worry about is sleep itself...and just
like that, it’s got me and now I wonder if it isn’t better to just stay
awake after all.

influx: Magazine April 1999 17
And Awake

A moving image compilation

Through the use of ani-
mated figure drawings, black and
white film, and digital video, the
viewer is guided through an
abstract exploration of a frag-
mented world no longer subject
to the conventional day, but
rather days, that marked
between sleep, can no longer fit
into the regular world, Thus,
the insomniac’s conflict begins.

Simon
by Michael Simons.

skaters clack along on their boards throughout the long, dark nigh,
to the annoyance ofthe neighbors who complain of insomnia cased
by this activi. Ihave pointed out to them that to object to noise i
big city is idiculous, tht what realy keeps them awake (sn actu-
ally the noise tae) bus rather thee indignation that anyone can be
So thoughuless.

Revelations are the stuff of night and sorrow, desi
reams and passions. We all have bad nights, our dark hours ofthe
Soul, heart palpitations chilled sweats and night tors. But insom
fla special perverely romantic and regretably adicive. Tt
‘becomes the most selish of worlds, known by most but only
explored bya fe

"There are thee diferent iypes of chronic insomniac: the
‘ones who can't gett sleep, those who can't sty aslep and continue
to wakeup all night long, and some who wakeup twenty minutes
afer they go to bed and can't slep again. T dabble in each ofthe
‘isrders but seem to have excelled inthe St, not being able to fal
asleep at all

U1 can get myself to bed before midnight... IT don’t
rink... Tull myself wit a safe book, on listless of meaning, void
‘of negative thought or introspective associations that cause me to
reflect..f 1 take a couple of aspirias and the phone remains
‘Sent. FT don't havea deadline ora romance in mind, Thave a
Shot asleep. Then all Thave to sorry abou i slep tf. and just
Tike tha, is got me and now Iwonder iit n't etter to just tay
ava afterall.

influx’ Magazine April 1999

17