
Hello, I'm Dar
When Nobody's Watching
2016
I don't own the song used in this slideshow.
Digital Photographs in Slideshow
When Nobody’s Watching is an exploration of vulnerability, trust, and the raw authenticity of human expression when the weight of societal expectations is lifted. Participants—some strangers, some acquaintances—are invited into an isolated space and instructed only to “be.” They are asked to respond to music in whatever way they feel, whether that means moving freely or staying still. No direction is given, no choreography imposed. It is just them, the room, and the music.
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This project, which spanned from June 2016 to May 2017 and involved 54 volunteers, is as much about the participants' experiences as it is about the artist’s role in facilitating them. Before entering the room, trust is carefully cultivated over shared conversations, pizza, or snacks—an essential step in encouraging participants to release their inhibitions. Once inside, the music creates a cocoon of sound, isolating them from reality and inviting them to confront their inner thoughts, emotions, and selves.
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One participant, Duane Lucas, described the experience:
"The isolation reminded me of my depression; of my fear of emptiness. But as the music intensified, I was possessed by a feeling of hope. Of invincibility. Like an untouchable ghost. And even though the moment was fleeting and artificial, the feeling was genuine."
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This moment encapsulates the transformative potential of the project, which serves as a space to bare oneself—physically and emotionally—and find connection in isolation. The presence of the photographer raises questions of perception and awareness: Can participants truly erase the observer from their mental space, or does the act of being watched shape their vulnerability? These moments of unfiltered honesty challenge participants to confront their own sense of self.
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For some, this was a therapeutic exercise—a chance to connect with their bodies and emotions without judgment. For the artist, it was equally transformative, revealing the intimate beauty of human expression and the profound trust required to create it.
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When Nobody’s Watching is a personal and experimental inquiry into the essence of identity, connection, and the delicate dance between isolation and observation. It reminds us of the power of stillness, movement, and music to strip us of pretense and return us to the core of who we are.