jay rechsteiner
home artworks statement & cv contact
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I woke up.A self-distancing project during the Coronavirus Lockdown, "I Woke Up" comprises smartphone selfies inspired by Franz Kafka's "The Metamorphosis." This endeavor delves into the realm of self-portraiture, raising inquiries about the essence of my metamorphic self. Each image captures the spontaneity of my morning reflections, encapsulating the thoughts and emotions that surface with each awakening. book available
Book Specifications Book Size: A5 (5.83 x 8.27 in / 148 x 210 mm)
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Saturday, 11 April 2020
Today I woke up as a pig.
I wanted to eat vegetarian tempura but couldn't because I wasn't able to hold my chopstick due to the disappearance of my fingers.
Sunday, 12 April 2020
Today I woke up as Noam Chomsky.
I am tired but my thoughts are on fire. I have seen many faces, many hands. I have seen people march along.
I have seen empty shelves. I am tired but I am.
Monday, 13 April 2020
Today I woke up as a man wearing a tiger mask.
Moving my eyes to the right and to the left was possible but I wasn't able to see my shoulders
without moving my head as my eyes were too deep inside my face.
Tuesday, 14 April 2020
I woke up as Klaus Kinski in 1985.
I wasn't angry at first. The old coat behind the door took me back to 1983. Then I was angry.
Wednesday, 15 April 2020
I woke up as Winnie the Pooh.
I didn't know where I was. I looked down and saw honey.
Saturday, 16 April 2020
I did not wake up.
Friday, 17 April 2020
I woke up without a face.
I didn't see anything. I didn't smell anything. I wasn't able to speak. I wasn't able to breathe. But I took a selfie.
Saturday, 18 April 2020
I woke up as Donald Trump.
I felt great. I had a great breakfast. It was fantastic.
Sunday, 19 April 2020
I woke up wearing Donald Trump's penis-finger crown.
At first I felt sort of awkward wearhing Donald Trump's crown as it was a bit wet. But then I felt great. I had a shower with it.
Monday, 20 April 2020
I woke up as Michael Gove
I felt off beam.
Tuesday, 21 April 2020
I woke up as a drawing of a miserable man Delphine is scared of.
Before falling asleep I was concentrating on waking up as Sophy Ridge but instead I woke up as a drawing.
At first I was a bit disappointed but so what, llife goes on.
My look today reminded me of that brilliant A-ha music video 'Take on me'. I felt really young.
Wednesday, 22 April 2020
I woke up as a vegeteable and fruit person.I was really hungry when I woke up. I lookek into the mirror and ate my ears.
Thursday, 23 April 2020
I woke up liquified
I felt larger but flatter. I stuck a pencil into my face.
Friday, 24 April 2020
I woke up as a discarded idea.
This wasn't the not the first time I realized that the very concept of who I was had to be re-written.
Saturday, 25 April 2020
I woke up as Sai Baba.
I then cut my hair with my newly acquired hair clippers which was really stupid because I liked my new hair.
Sunday, 26 April 2020
I woke up as a dried piece of shit.
As soon as I got up I had to go to the loo.
Wednesday, 29 April 2020
I woke up as with 16 facial expressions.
I was asleep for more than 48 hours.
Thursday, 30 April 2020
I woke up as with a golden layer on my face.
This golden layer is just the surface. I can't srape it off and sell it. It is worthless as it is part of my skin.
Friday, 1 May 2020
I woke up as with my face falling off.
I have never like the idea of a symbolic mask but when I woke up today I realized that there is no
such thing as a mask.
Saturday, 2 May 2020
I woke up as with more eyes as usual. I also had my nose transplanted and I grew a few more mouths.
It felt weird as I had a more rounded view. I wanted to say something but I didn't know how to control each mouths. My nose was the same just
in a different place.
Sunday, 3 May 2020
I woke up as with as a (white) wormhole portal.
I didn't venture to put my arm into my face as I wasn't sure if there was enough exotic matter to keep the wormhole open.
Monday, 4 May 2020
I woke up as as the view from my living room.
It was as I didn't exist anymore. I was there and I wasn't there.
Tuesday, 5 May 2020
I woke up as with in a Zoom discussion about the disapparence of art.
Since the beginning of the lockdown I felt that art has vanished. This was a wake-up call.
Wednesday, 6 May 2020
I woke up as Joseph Beuys.
This was really cool. I have always been fascinated by Beuys as he was together with Jean Tinguely, Dieter Roth and Hans Arp
among the very first artists I studied as a young child.
Saturday, 16 May 2020, Margate, UK
I woke up as Karl Schmidt-Rottluff.
I felt a bridge growing from my island to another island. I didn't dare to cross the bridge though as I didn't see the bridge, I just felt it.
Monday, 18 May 2020, Margate, UK
I woke up as Der Neue Mensch.
I felt degenerated and ignored by the artworld. I was punished for Hitler's failed art career. However, I knew I was monumental.
Wednesday, 20 May 2020, Margate, UK
I woke up as a copy of myself.
I felt just like yesterday but I knew that I was slightly different.
