And In That Moment, I Felt Infinite on Vimeo

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90. Bon Anniversaire Rémi

by Karen Abad

3 years ago

89. Long Distance Friendship Call

by Karen Abad

3 years ago

88. Memory Bank 120390a

by Karen Abad

3 years ago

87. I Jumped Into A Lake And Held My Breath For 2 Minu…

by Karen Abad

3 years ago

86. Don't Use Your Mind, It Might Make Things Worse!!!!

by Karen Abad

3 years ago

85. Karen and Jason Love Michelle.

by Karen Abad

3 years ago

84. Arbitrary Analog Adventures on the East Coast

by Karen Abad

3 years ago

83. Me Right Now July 13, 2008

by Karen Abad

3 years ago

82. A Microscopic Monochromatic Visualization of My Lu…

by Karen Abad

3 years ago

81. Regarding the Nature of Luminance in Ubiquitous Darkness

by Karen Abad

3 years ago

80. Memory Bank 120389a

by Karen Abad

3 years ago

79. Strange Things Will Happen

by Karen Abad

3 years ago

78. Night Time Editing Escapades With Twinsies Mc Bout…

by Karen Abad

3 years ago

77. And In That Moment, I Felt Infinite

by Karen Abad

3 years ago

76. Commingled Catastrophe

by Karen Abad

3 years ago

75. Take a Deep Breath; Here We Go!!!

by Karen Abad

3 years ago

74. The Misplaced Oligopoly of Curated Time

by Karen Abad

3 years ago

73. The Day Off

by Karen Abad

3 years ago

72. A Minuscule Exploration Through Regenerated Beams …

by Karen Abad

3 years ago

71. Snippety Snip Snip Face Mc Snipertons

by Karen Abad

3 years ago

70. Look Away

by Karen Abad

3 years ago

69. 16mm Chauncy Beverage Assignment

by Karen Abad

3 years ago

68. On This Day, Years Ago, You Emerged From Your Moth…

by Karen Abad

3 years ago

67. Learn Your Alphablakes! Boutros, Boutros, Lah-Dee-Dah!

by Karen Abad

3 years ago

66. Adrienne Learns to Fly.

by Karen Abad

3 years ago

65. Apparently, according to Ben Millett, it isn't che…

by Karen Abad

3 years ago

64. The Protagonist Suddenly Realizes What She Must Do…

by Karen Abad

3 years ago

“Yet it is in this loneliness that the deepest activities begin. It is here that you discover act without motion, labor that is profound repose, vision in obscurity, and, beyond all desire, a fulfillment whose limits extend to infinity.

I suppose what makes me most glad is that we all recognize each other in this metaphysical space of silence and happening, and get some sense, for a moment, that we are full of paradise without knowing it.” – Thomas Merton

This project was inspired by Patrick Moberg’s MellowTron: stuffedrobot.com/images/public/regular/b233b0cac595646233a3f7947e622537.jpg

Three days ago, I posted my cell phone number on my blog and asked people to anonymously call it and leave a voice message to the question:

What is loneliness?

Predominantly using digital stills manipulated in post, some video footage, and lo-fi audio recordings of messages from my cell phone, this was an attempt to make a coherent psychological discourse of strangers’ emotional dispositions, which resulted in a huge emotional investment.

This was an extremely difficult question to answer, and I am so grateful to all who participated. Here are the messages transcribed: karenabad.tumblr.com/post/36237755/loneliness-is

__________________________________________________________
This is, "Loneliness," the second installment of "Robot Feelings" videos.

(Read about it here: karenabad.tumblr.com/post/48766743/robot-feelings )

Longing - vimeo.com/738587
Love - vimeo.com/1664882

vimeo.com/Robots

Credits

494 Likes

Amy Guth
3 weeks ago
Ian Sheddan
3 weeks ago
Thatch
3 weeks ago
mai kolls
3 weeks ago
jason roberts
1 month ago
Hunter Lee Hughes
1 month ago
The Candyfloss Kid
2 months ago
Luan Voigt
3 months ago
hazler
3 months ago
JAGO | VJ
3 months ago

See all 494 likes

Tags

Bryan 3 years ago

so impatient right now.
Karen Abad 3 years ago

psh i was clinging to my seat...it took forever to upload
Christopher Galasso 3 years ago

Come onnnnnn
Karen Abad 3 years ago

I know right..
Christopher Galasso 3 years ago

Karen....
I cried.
Karen Abad 3 years ago

Aw I love you Christopher. I almost cried while I was editing this, but I have no heart, so I didn't. I'm made of wires and batteries.
Christopher Galasso 3 years ago

Well this was definitely worth staying up until 5am to watch this. <3
Cameron Christopher 3 years ago

true dat.
Christopher Galasso 3 years ago

You were already up putzing around with other stuff, haha. :)
victoria 3 years ago

don't tell anyone, but I cried too.
Christopher Galasso 3 years ago

Mum's the word.
Karen Abad 3 years ago

Ha you guys are cute.
Jason 3 years ago

Lovely.
So many hugs for Robie.
And the callers.
Karen Abad 3 years ago

Um no hugs for Cecil or the new guy?

haha thanks coach rubby.
Cameron Christopher 3 years ago

Beautiful, and really interesting. Certain people say it's when there's nobody around, and others say it doesn't matter how many are around you. Same with loneliness being a horrible or lovely thing.
Karen Abad 3 years ago

It was definitely interesting. Good thing I'm putting that psychology degree to a better use. Haha. It's always good to hear what different people have to say about the same idea or concept.

love you.
Iain Brew 3 years ago

i just got your message, i'm really glad you shared this with me <3
hopefully, a lonely person will watch this, and not feel so loney...
Karen Abad 3 years ago

We need to catch up.

I hope you are doing well. love u.
Aziz Kocanaogullari 3 years ago

Karen, you're amazing you know that right?
Karen Abad 3 years ago

Aziz, you know you're a lion right? An awesome one with blue hair.

Haha.

I think you're pretty great.
heather 3 years ago

Lady you amaze me, I meant to do this but never got the guts too because I'm afraid of the phone!
Karen Abad 3 years ago

I don't blame you, it's difficult to talk about something like this let alone have your voice recorded for someone to use. hahah. It is alright my dear I appreciate you always.
Capucha 3 years ago

"this video no longer exists" :'(
Karen Abad 3 years ago

oh silly vimeo. It's still there but lurking around in cyberland. :-)
Capucha 3 years ago

bummer, apparently I'm the only one here who's not able to view it. And all others videos work fine for me today, except this one.
weird!
Patrick Moberg 3 years ago

Try now! I think it's fixed.
victoria 3 years ago

heh... loneliness is not being able to watch the video that everyone else has already watched :P
Karen Abad 3 years ago

Hahaha Victoria. You're silly.
Thanks for the quick fix P Mob.
Capucha 3 years ago

haha victoria
and thanks again Patrick ! :)
Teah 3 years ago

I love how one term can have such different meaning to different people and it's refreshing to see how people can answer the question not just as a negative term.

Kudos for setting this up, Karen.
Karen Abad 3 years ago

Most definitely. I was hoping that that's what it would come out as...thank god. haha. I didn't want this video to be depressing at all. Good thing things worked out as they did.

Thanks for your support Teah :-)
Stephen Niebauer 3 years ago

This was extremely moving.

Thank you.
Karen Abad 3 years ago

You know what else is moving...the fact that you got an HV30.

:-)~~~
Ben Millett 3 years ago

The comment at 2:00 was what I was going to say, only he said it better. This was really nice. A great collaboration.
Karen Abad 3 years ago

Thanks Ben Millett. :-) I'm sure you would've said it wonderfully as well. Thanks for wanting to be so involved in everything that I try, and always believing in me...best life coach ever.
Troy Rojewski 3 years ago

This is so great.
Karen Abad 3 years ago

Aw thanks Troy. <3
Patrick Moberg 3 years ago

Beautiful job, Karen.
Karen Abad 3 years ago

Thanks so much P. Mob. Thanks for the life of your wonderful robots.
Buck Flashroy 3 years ago

Oh no! I can't see it! It just says;
"Sorry, this video no longer exists"

I keep refreshing, but it says the same thing :(
Capucha 3 years ago

Ah ! So I'm not the only one.
Patrick Moberg 3 years ago

Try now! I think it's fixed.
Capucha 3 years ago

It works, yes ! Thank you Patrick :)
Buck Flashroy 3 years ago

Yup, works now - thanks Patrick.

I like the images in this video, but I found the words quite hard to hear. Just the wrong time for me to hear that kind of thing at the moment. I liked the robots though.
Karen Abad 3 years ago

Agreed, the lofi audio from voicemails makes it SOOOO difficult to understand. Honestly, I had to listen to some of them three times before understanding it. I think what I'll do right now is write a transcript of what they say and add a link. karenabad.tumblr.com/post/36237755/loneliness-is
Ayz Waraich 3 years ago

Such a great idea Karen.

very affecting.
Karen Abad 3 years ago

:-)

Thanks Ayz!
Alex Itin 3 years ago

Very very nice karen. I'm so lonely....shit
Karen Abad 3 years ago

Don't be.

Hee hee.

Hugs for you. ::happy::
Sunny Dawn 3 years ago

Karen, this is gorgeous. Thank you so much for making it.
Karen Abad 3 years ago

I am happy to share it with you Sunny. I think that it's important that people listen to other because our lives are so fast paced, we don't have time to just relax and enjoy one another's company.
Capucha 3 years ago

So moving... I couldn't understand all the messages because of the phone voice distorsion (it makes it harder to understand for a foreigner like me). Maybe this is better, because I think I would have cried too much. But if you have some time, I'd love to have the verbatim.
Karen Abad 3 years ago

My dearest Capucha. Here you go:

karenabad.tumblr.com/post/36237755/loneliness-is

:-)
Capucha 3 years ago

You're the best !! :))) <3
ampatspell 3 years ago

So sad and hopeful and beautiful.
Thank you, thank you.

(Listening Sigur Ros - Untitled 3 right now)
Karen Abad 3 years ago

Thanks so much :-) I've been listening to Hvarf/Heim so much lately. It's soo refreshing.
victoria 3 years ago

... what everyone else said... This is a really touching video. I'm so glad so many people participated. It's so good to hear how other people encounter loneliness. It makes us all feel a little less alone, doesn't it?

Awesome project. You are a beauty. <3
Karen Abad 3 years ago

That's true. Being around people who feel the same sadness, somehow makes our problems seem less significant because of empathy.

you are love.
Zack Wolk 3 years ago

<3<3<3
Karen Abad 3 years ago

Thank you kind sir
robert 3 years ago

We love you Karen.
Karen Abad 3 years ago

As I love you too my dear friend.
HannahMai 3 years ago

this turned out so great... :)
awesome idea karen!!
and i am in it, wooo! i was feeling super lonely by the time i left my message, it was good timing.
Karen Abad 3 years ago

You are a heartbeat. :-)

It was nice to see that my nearest and dearests participated in this. Thank you for always supporting me.
Redthko 3 years ago

i agree with victoria.
This is a really touching video.
It makes us all feel a little less alone.
i am alone and in this moment i feel infinite.
have a great week!
redthko! :D
Karen Abad 3 years ago

Thanks Carlos. :-) How can I ever be alone with such wonderful people in my life.
Bryan 3 years ago

hey which camera did you end up using for this? is the GS320 working again?
Karen Abad 3 years ago

No I had to borrow one from someone for about half an hour, it was a much grosser model than the 320, i think it was the 29 or something. It was an in between from the 320 and what i sent you, made completely of plastic. Good thing colour correction exists huh.
_blank 3 years ago

Quite sad, but really poetic :)
Karen Abad 3 years ago

Aww hopefully not meant to be too sad.

Supposed to be hopeful.
Christopher Galasso 3 years ago

I can't stop watching this. For serious.
Karen Abad 3 years ago

Me too oddly enough because I typically can't stand watching things that I make (for serious.)
leslie 3 years ago

i agree with the others who think you're awesome, because you are. this made me cry.
Karen Abad 3 years ago

Thanks so much leslie. But just to clarify, this video, and a lot of others that I create are awesome, not because of me, but because of the people who are willing to invest themselves into my work either in the direct creation of it or in the acceptance, support, and viewing of it. I merely document the aesthetics around me. In this idealistic, fantasmical world that exists in my head, there's far too much beauty to ever be sad for too long... :-)
Glenn (aka Avene) 3 years ago

Great work! I love the idea and the finished movie :)
Karen Abad 3 years ago

B eeep!!! Thanks Glenn :-) you're a great vimeo friend.
Glenn (aka Avene) 3 years ago

Thanks Karen :)

I forgot to mention, the lofi quality of the messages almost made it seem like the robots were talking.
Craig McCreath 3 years ago

that was both sad, but beautiful, but insightful.

it was perfect.
Karen Abad 3 years ago

Aww thanks so much Mr. McCreath. :-)
Taylor Near 3 years ago

great work

still using the DVX??
Karen Abad 3 years ago

DVX is still out of commission but on its way to getting fixed.
michael baca 3 years ago

wow karen that was so good. i love the simplicity but yet it was very moving. your work is inspirational.. a goal for me to strive for being at AAU. lets hang out this summer i have your email. think of something you would like to film in the city k?!
Karen Abad 3 years ago

aww thanks michael , yeah i hope we get a chance to collaborate this summer. haha most of these things on my vimeo are silly little projects and exercises i do for fun. but for some reason, i enjoy doing them more than stuff for class. :-)

we'll keep in touch.
michael baca 3 years ago

well yeah vimeo is a good way to practice the stuff we learn at school! anyways you got talent girl
Karen Abad 3 years ago

haha no offense to our school, but i haven't really learned much of anything since I started going there. Haha..but hopefully that will change next semester.

But you are right it's good to keep pushing yourself to do things outside of school. and you are very flattering, you are a talented young man yourself from the few videos of yours that I have seen. I can't wait to collab.
yummygreens 3 years ago

This was really neat. touching =/
Karen Abad 3 years ago

aw thanks so much :-)
Angela Sauceda 3 years ago

why are you so unbelievably brilliant?

p.s.
expect something in the mail in a few days :)
Karen Abad 3 years ago

Not me who is brilliant, it is the people who are brave enough to participate in my little projects. :-)

aww you are a gem. <3 Thanks for being a part of my life.
Scruff_E_Guy 3 years ago

wow...this is incredible
Karen Abad 3 years ago

Aww thanks a lot scruffs, I've missed ya I hope all is well with you.
loonachic 3 years ago

ok. i cried at 2:25.

i really need to be reading your blog, karen! wtf is wrong with me? i feel so alone for being the only person on the planet not reading your blog.

:-/
Karen Abad 3 years ago

Aww you need not worry, my blog is pretty boring so you're not missing out on much, or just ridiculous links. hee hee.

I think you are an incredible person. :-) I really do.
Monica 3 years ago

Great video!
I agree that loneliness can be addictive and can be so easy to feel, and especially, comfortable(for me).
We need sad moments, and moments when we feel lonely so that we can fully understand what is happening around us.
I'm happy that I could see your video. Thanks!
Karen Abad 3 years ago

I'm thankful that you were able to see this and express your perspective of loneliness. Though it is a pleasant video to watch, I am more surprised and happy about the discourse that is created about the subject matter.

Thanks again so much Monica. Have a great day!
Dan Huston 3 years ago

So now I'm wiping my eyes and blowing my nose....that was amazing! Brilliantly moving - I could go on and on. Thanks for that!
Karen Abad 3 years ago

Aww no problem Dan.

The best part of loneliness is knowing it doesn't last forever...and that people really care about you more than you will ever know.
neems 3 years ago

thats great karen . bet those dinosaurs cryed too (:
Karen Abad 3 years ago

I bet the dinosaurs cried for not being included in this video. :-(

thanks so much Victor.
Karen Abad 3 years ago

Loneliness is being a dinosaur and not being included in this video, and being dead for thousands of years, but alive in our hearts.