Distract | Attend
Jacqueline Scotcher in collaboration with Dane Scotcher

This exhibition is born out of a dual force. The first being a concern that digital distraction is having an increasingly negative impact on contemporary lives. The other, a passion for attending to landscape and moments of beauty through creative practice. Philosopher William James presents that the sum of our own life experience will be what we pay attention to; whether by choice or default. This body of work highlights losing control of focus by constantly turning to your phone, versus the expansive qualities that noticing surrounding environments brings to daily life. 

The ‘Distracted’ works in this exhibition attempt to convey the sensations of moving through a digital space. Fragmented collage and digital scroll loops reflect the continuous yet often random cadence of this relationship. Where an information flow is forever on, yet meaningful substance fades; so often interrupted by notifications, click baits and opinions designed to steal your attention. The alluring ‘next thing’ is always just there, with a dopamine hit in tow.

The only cure for distraction is attention. 

I began the ‘attend’ artworks in this exhibition by actively observing the sunrise daily. This repetitive practice led to a habit of noticing the light change over my local northern NSW hinterland and tuning in to the rhythm of the day. Observing the landscape lets me really feel time and opens space for contemplation. This well of experience moved into the studio. Paintings began to unfold with the layering of colours, forms and impressions that had been gathered. In this way, the landscape is an entry point to an interiority and self-understanding. Painting is the bodily act that reveals this relationship in poetic form.

For me, painting is a flow state; a contemplative activity where I am absorbed and nothing else seems to matter. The ultimate state of attention. The quiet hum of an inner knowing is somehow generated as I push gooey paint around. This hum is so often overwhelmed in a digital world. Research shows that increased smartphone use correlates with increased rates of anxiety and depression, particularly for young people. I see creative practice or discovering any form of personal flow state as a mode to counter these contemporary trends. Creative practice requires deep awareness. The drive to create and resulting intrinsic satisfaction has the ability to remedy an undercurrent of digitally driven anxiety. 

This exhibition is not a moral panic about technology or a direction to simply resist digital distraction. Far from it, technology is a fabulous tool. Rather, this work is a call to attend to the world around you, and nurture flow state activities. In doing so distractions will not hold the same power and a focussed life of meaning can evolve. 

This exhibition was on display at Logan Art Gallery, QLD during January 25 – March 2, 2024