Anxiety World
James Cochrane
Artist statement: "Anxiety World" is a 3D virtual reality experience that depicts my personal struggle with anxiety, marijuana abuse, and how it affects my worldview. Fun and colorful yet possibly fear-inducing clowns evoke a sense of tension and disquiet. The scene itself takes place in a liminal space made up of unending white sprawl and colored tiles that suggest a sort of false comfort. One of the clowns offers you a blunt. On one hand, marijuana may add to the problem of anxiety. On the other hand, it offers a fun distraction. What do you do? Sometimes I feel trapped in a carnivalesque reality where I'm not sure of the people around me or my path forward. Marijuana serves as a temporary escape and "self-handicap" that allows me to feel there is an understandable reason for the anxiety I face. It also aids a sense of having fun in the face of adversity and the unknowing of anxiety. "Anxiety World" asks the viewer to consider the prevalence of anxiety, marijuana abuse, and the impact it has on people's lives, and for those struggling with these issues to enjoy the ride despite the challenges you may face.
Biography
James Cochrane is an emerging interdisciplinary artist from Redding, California, working in
3D virtual installation, digital illustration, and digital film. His work explores mental
health, perception, and existentialism.
He began to pursue art in community college and is now nearing completion of a BFA in
Digital Media Arts. James has many interests and has difficulty determining where to focus
his energy.
He is an avid player of video games and is an advocate for games as an art form. He is
interested in exploring interactive digital art as a medium,
seeking to intertwine the conceptual freedom of visual art with the interactivity of video
games. James Currently works and lives in San Jose, California, and is seeking his next
step.
