What haunts...Our Secrets

Inspired by my own family secrets, what haunts... is an interactive art installation that explores secrets and their universality. Viewers respond and participate by reading and adding, in anonymity, their own - often-intimate - secrets to the installation. The varied secrets evoke sadness, horror, shock, humor, and reassurance. They "are riveting to read, telling stories of abortion, adoption, and affairs mixed with more universal confessions, like, 'my heart is broken and I am terrified.'"  - Cathy McLaurin

The artist reports people are strongly drawn to this art piece. Probably because all of us keep secrets.

I was taught to teach children not to keep certain secrets (like that they are being abused).

Secrets can be a torment and a burden.

Many of us keep secrets for decades. Many die with our secrets still buried deep in our psyches and in our hearts...aching for release.

But then...secrets are so tantillizing aussi.

So it's intriguing isn't it, that while we are compelled to keep secrets, this piece of art shows we are just as driven to expose them. The curtained "room" where the participants pen their secrets anonymously becomes a confessional.

Aren't we interesting, complex creatures?

Comments

[Deb]

This reminds me of a similar project here in NY. It received a lot of press. I always hope that those who share can do so without a trigger fallout.

[HP]

It reminds me a little of PostSecret. The anonymity is attactive..you can release the secret without feeling exposed...or so goes the theory.

Of course, PostSecret has become quite a money earner for the author - not sure that sits well with me.

[Lael]

Ohhh yes we are! I love reading other people's secrets but don't have too many of my own. I like to be an open book,which gets me in trouble sometimes;p
I would love to see that piece..

[Alison Tuck]

Deb, I'd be interested to know if there is fall out in these projects, and what it is.

HP, I think I've seen that site but you've picqued my interest so I'll check it out and have a perv..

Lael, I imagine you are a very open person and no doubt very trustworthy to boot!