The Four Chambered Heart Institute for Research, Understanding and Documentation of Social and Cultural Influence on Love and Relationships

A solo presentation from Leila Hekmat

On November 8, 2011, Leila Hekmat will begin seven weeks of work at Recess as part of its signature program, Session. Session invites artists to use its storefront space as studio, exhibition venue and grounds for experimentation. Over the course of The Four Chambered Heart: Institute for Research, Understanding and Documentation of Love and Relationships, Hekmat will fuse the therapist’s office, researcher center, and performance set. Untrained and unlicensed as a counselor, Hekmat will offer the public complimentary love advice while documenting society’s influence on how we define our sexual selves and romantic relationships.

Within her visually rich, curated set as medical facility, Hekmat will generate a series of videos as well as written and photographic documentation. Costumes and props will be on hand to aid in role-playing and visitor anonymity. In this laboratory where private love lives are on view for public consumption, the artist will probe modes of self-representation and honesty while charting the ubiquitous performance we engage in on a daily basis.