SR-22 (HD video, 11:16 min, 2025) is a digital performance epic that examines surveillance, autonomy, and digital embodiment as they intersect with fractured subjectivity and the ruin of reality. Framed through the lens of Kierkegaard’s “Fear and Trembling,” viewers follow the protagonist on a surreal theological journey to reclaim her driver’s license after her life is interrupted by divine intervention.
LANGUAGE : English COUNTRY : USA YEAR : 2025 DURATION : 11m DIRECTOR / WRITER : Elyse Johnson SOUND DESIGN / VOICEOVER : Michael Metz
Director Statement : The narrative of SR-22 explores the friction between reality and female subjecthood as it revisits the idea of immaculate conception in the age of mechanical reproduction. I was inspired to write this piece while working in the insurance industry, particularly by my interactions with customers seeking high risk auto insurance and the proximity of this experience to the condition of original sin. When people discuss their relationship to their vehicles, the driver will often leave the vehicle out of their wording entirely, for example, “I turned left,” “he hit me,” “I lost control.” In SR-22, the protagonist reflects on her role as the driver of her vehicle as her own subjectivity becomes continually blurred and distorted not only in language but also in spirit.
Bio : Elyse Johnson is a Chicago-based performance and video artist working in game development and new media. Her work explores digital embodiment and fractured subjectivity through immersive storytelling and performance. She is a 2015 recipient of the Wilder Scholarship Grant and holds an MFA in Fine Arts from Parsons School of Design (2019).
Pebbles Underground is focused on showcasing and promoting experimental, avant-garde, underground, and no-to-low budget projects by artist-humans from all over the world. Absurd, uncanny, witty, humorous, slow-video – all are welcomed, and loved.
Pebbles Underground is an independent project not funded by any government or corporation, and we intend to keep it that way. Main source of funding is personal donations from humans organizing the project, who are artists themselves, and the main drive of the project is formed by the energy and involvement of the organizers, and the public.
