Pursuit of Happiness
2019, digital video, 5 minutes each, looping
Pursuit of Happiness features the practice of Laughter Yoga. Founded in 1995 by Dr. Madan Kataria, Laughter Yoga embraces the philosophy that the body cannot discern between a fabricated laugh and a genuine one. Through the use of immersive video, the viewer is placed in the center of the exercise, free to look in any direction. The three video portraits, in contrast, offer a view of the exercise being practiced independently. In each case, the subjects appear to waver between physical strain and pure euphoria, presenting Laughter Yoga as both effective and unsettling. By inviting the viewer into the practice, Pursuit of Happiness seeks to inspire the question, “What do you practice?”
