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Desires Are Nourished by Delays

Kayla Eli

Artist Statement

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“Desires Are Nourished by Delays” is a video art piece about a homeless teenager recalling a game of M.A.S.H. she had played with her childhood friend. This piece is meant to be played on a loop.

I get up, put the coffee on, feed the cats, and pee. A knock at the front door— it’s Theodore Roethke, fresh from death. Hello Theodore. Hello Kenneth. We talk about greenhouses. And waking up slow. And do I know anyone who is lovely in their bones. Yes, I do. Many people in fact. My bones creak. I tell him that death makes him look refreshed, no more sags and bags. He says shedding the mortal coil has some perks, but death is like life. Only longer. I offer him a geranium which he puts his face in. He disappears, half angel, half joker, the sun like a basket on his head.

Kayla Eli is a Kenyan-Canadian artist/writer working in video art, new media, and textile art. Her thought-provoking and character-based work explores the feeling of nostalgia and moments within popular culture. Eli’s written pieces are inspired by real life experiences and occurrences, while her videos involve non-linear narratives that challenge viewer expectations. She has exhibited in shows in Ottawa and Vernon and has artwork and creative writing published in independent magazines. Eli completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a specialization in Sculpture at the University of Ottawa in 2022.