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