Tabula Rasa

Tabula Rasa’s installation: shown at The Anderson gallery from September 1 to September 15 (2023) with three live dance performances on September 8. Funded by Virginia Commonwealth Universtiy's Collaborative Resrearch Grant. Facilitated by Teairrah Green (Creative Director/Filmmaker), Chynia Harris (Choreographer/Performance Coordinator & Social Media Manager), Lareina Allred (Graphic Designer & Sculptor).

Derived from philosophers such as Jean-Jacques Rousseau, David Hume & Immanuel Kant, Tabula Rasa is a Latin term that in English translates to “clean slate.” With this clean slate, we can create anything. That’s where the idea of exploring “Biocentrism” grew from. Biocentrism is the way our consciousness relates to our physical body. It claims nothing exists until and unless it is viewed by a conscious observer.

The universe is created by life. Because of this, we are unified in our thinking and existence. This project is an interactive installation that combines video, audio, crafts, and performance art to explore the question: How does biocentrism unify our thinking and existence?

This project explores themes of consciousness and collective experiences/thinking. The film is based on self-reflection that reveals various life experiences in relation to their consciousness. The sound consists of the internal thoughts, and organic sounds (human voice, wind, leaves rustling and birds chirping). The performers explore the stages of consciousness in relation to lived experiences and the five senses. They will portray the growth, development, and interconnection between human consciousness. Finally, the audience is able to ponder these ideas with us as well as within themselves.

The Tabula Rasa projected three videos, and included live preformances.

Tabula Rasa - Live Performance

This is a 14 minute piece. Performers portrayed the growth, development, and interconnection between human consciousness.

Dance & Choreography by Chynia Harris @chyniathecreator. Performed by Anastasia Perrius, Eliza Seaton, Emma Wynkoop, Lucia Biondi, & Mars Dunston. Filmed and edited by Kylie Hall @histomedia23.

Space - Tabula Rasa

Biocentrism is the way our consciousness relates to our physical body. It claims nothing exists until and unless it is viewed by a conscious observer. The universe is created by life. Because of this, we are unified in our thinking and existence. Explore the question: How does biocentrism unify our thinking and existence?

Press

The Commonwealth Times • 6th September 2023

A clean slate: Group art exhibition opens at The Anderson Gallery

Mackenzie Meleski, Contributing Writer
Tabula rasa translates from Latin to “an absence of preconceived ideas or predetermined goals; a clean slate.”
Fourteen VCUarts students presented “Tabula Rasa,” their interpretation of this Latin phrase through film, performance art and sculpture. Chynia Harris, Lareina Allred and Teairrah Green led the project after receiving a VCUarts Collaborative Research Grant during the fall of 2022, according to Allred and Harris. The exhibition opened on Sept. 1 at...