Never Too Much explores quantum forms of self-expression and transformation centred on the artist’s emotional and embodied worlds.  

It uses Heaney’s bespoke quantum video editing technique to explore trauma, monstrosity (within), animality and shadow through the lens of non-binary quantum physics.

While thinking about a difficult childhood, challenging family relations and sexist experiences, Heaney filmed herself swallowing, defiantly regurgitating and being gagged by slime. Heaney’s aim was to come in contact with ‘the other within‘ by opening up a gateway through a slimy orifice – her mouth

Besides personal experiences, Heaney’s references range from the psychological (Gabor Mate’s The Myth of Normal & Jung) to natural history (Suzanne Wedlich’s Natural History of Slime) to feminist philosophy (Karen Barad’s essay On Touching: the Inhuman that I therefore am). 

The artist filmed herself sucking and regurgitating blue, green and black slimes, her mouth becoming a portal between binaries offering a glimpse into both inner and outer worlds.  Slime is a reoccuring motif in Heaney’s work, characterizing the unstable nature of reality and the self.

These clips are layered and interwoven, their opacity and transparency determined by the intricate relationships formed within the quantum realm.

The resulting layering of Heaney’s mouth in various states suggest a non-linear time. The present, past and future all exist at once – like time collapsing within trauma.

The layering symbolises how emotion is held in the body as one experiences different feelings and sensations simultaneously.  The result is a blurry, indeterminate aesthetic which symbolises the self.

The title of the work comes from Luther Vandross’ eponymous song, which Heaney’s mother played when she was a child, as well as gloriously challenging the idea of being “Too Much” – a core belief many women hold.

The duration of the work – 18mins – refers to the length of time – 18 years – Heaney spent living in her mother’s home as a child.

Quantum video editing is a technique Heaney developed as part of her on-going experiments with quantum computing – a new non-binary type of computer. It contrasts with traditional video editing where different videos clips are shown on the screen sequentially – one after the other.

Here, the quantum editing process magnifies the collective experience of the frames, inviting you, the observer, to reflect on the hidden dimensions within yourself.

Never Too Much was exhibited at PLUS ONE gallery, Antwerp and HEK, Basel.