Perceptions of Presence: Art as Awareness in Form
Publication information:
Abstract
Artist Talk: What does it mean for artwork to hold presence? This presentation explores how inanimate form can shift from being inert to apparent awareness, blurring the boundary between object and observer. Drawing from Prāṇa Pratiṣṭhā in Hinduism, Christian iconography, Tantric/Buddhist sacra, neuro-aesthetics and my own sculptural work, I propose a 20-minute discussion and visual art display to examine how artistic practice serves as both a container for presence and a catalyst for awareness, exploring how art can transform from mere material form into a vessel of Presence.
Presenter Biography
Berg works at the intersection of pattern and embodiment, exploring how structure and attention in yoga, art, and ritual shapes perception and awareness. With a degree in Classics and 28+ years of Ashtanga yoga, their contemplative installations—exhibited at Burning Man and public spaces— aspire to reflect Presence within form.
Find a link to their artwork below.