Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Dr Eve gets even more creative to bring happiness
DR EVE, whose real name is Marlene Wasserman, is no stranger to the local love, sex and relationship scene.
Throughout the years, she has helped rekindle the romances of scores of couples.
But when the clinical sexologist and couples sex therapist came across German artist SaySay.
Love’s images around the theme of loneliness and intimacy in the age of the digital world, she felt that she could provide even more value to her services.
Dr Eve has decided to be a part of the artist’s latest exhibition in South Africa, which showcases the lack of real human connection, exacerbated by social media and online dating networks in particular. These have in part led to the death of romance and intimacy,
“I was moved by his images as I feel they beautifully exemplify the loneliness, emptiness, hopelessness and despair that people feel,” she told the Saturday Star.
The sexologist said the issue was close to her heart as she was often confronted with it during her therapy sessions.
“Loneliness is a worldwide epidemic and a public health concern. At its core there’s a longing for connection and intimacy without technological interferences.
“This overlap in my work and SaySay.Love’s work motivated me to work with him.”
In her endeavour to join SaySay. Love in the battles against loneliness, Dr Eve will debut a live performance in an installation piece inspired by the work of Serbian performance artist, writer and art film director and producer Marina Abramovi .
This performance will take place on January 30 at the GUS Gallery in Stellenbosch, at the same venue where SaySay.Love’s exhibition will be held.
Dr Eve will also be offering ideas on how to combat issues of loneliness during her engagement, where members of the audience are also invited to engage in connective ways with her and each other through the experiential piece.
The sex therapist adds that while the digital world, including online dating platforms, offers people the opportunity to meet others from many different walks of life, she encourages all of them to make their daily connections with people in the real world.
“When online, meet up with people in real life as soon as possible to establish eye-to-eye gazing and human connecting.”
This, she explained, had far more benefits than the digital world could offer. People are lost and confused in this unregulated space.
“It has led to disconnection in real life, leaving people feeling more depressed, lonely, unhappy and alone in their relationships and sexuality.”