Jeremy Shaw's DMT
Performance Research August 18, 2017 Jennifer Fisher 1 citation
The article analyzes Jeremy Shaw's 2004 video work "DMT," in which the artist administered the hallucinogen dimethyltryptamine to friends and filmed their experiences. It argues that Shaw curates the psychedelic session as a performance of the drug's agency and aesthetic power, contrasting his approach with clinical settings. Shaw acts as a session guide or caretaker, echoing the etymological meaning of "curating" as caring for souls. The setting uses a neutral "white cube" gallery with close headshots against a white background, enabling intimate examination of euphoric facial expressions, while subtitles from trip reports reveal participants' struggles to verbalize hallucinations. The article notes that DMT induces intense euphoria and hallucinations, has therapeutic uses for PTSD, addiction, and palliative care, and that the aesthetics of setting remain critical in shaping psychedelic experiences.