Tony Tasset
I am U R Me
1998
Video

Michael Jackson’s Black or White video was the first time I saw that morphing effect. The video concludes with a series of beautiful people of various races and ages morphing from one into another. It was cutting edge entertainment technology applied to a message of global unity. The effect was amazing to me. I desired to apply such a grand statement onto my own tiny life. My art, at that time, was becoming more personal-hyper local, but also more entertaining. I had contrasting desires to address my own life intimately while simultaneously wanting to speak to a wider audience. I Am U R Me can be understood from a variety of perspectives: Freudian, Genetic, Cultural, Spiritual. It was also inspired by Charles Ray’s Family Romance sculpture. The title comes from a Red Hot Chili Peppers song.