AGNIESZKA KALINOWSKABefore It Will Get Hot
Exhibition
Introduction
Walter Seidl, author, Curator Erste Bank Group collection
Walter Seidl, author, Curator Erste Bank Group collection
Grünangergasse 1
1010 Vienna
31 May – 29 Jul 2006
read inGerman
All my projects essentially consist of observing human behavior in extreme situations. I try to freeze the usually very short moments of extreme physical and mental tension. Decisions made under such a pressure have strategic impact not only on our nearest future but also might influence our whole lives. Under pressure we expand our self-consciousness and therefore intensify the next choices we make in our lives. That is why during those short moments we are able to mobilize our whole potential and let go the energy, we would never dream we might possess. Fear and ambition alter our normal behavior, and transforms us momentarily into a completely different person. This temporary transformation into someone other than our usual self, gives us the potential to better our reality; giving us substantial effects to improve our lives. People, who are looking for a job, or those participating in everyday business meetings converse and make small-talk, during which detailed observation of all emitted signals forces them to concentrate all their attention and energy on the particular task at hand. Missing a most nuanced grimace or expression could potentially give away an entire strategy, and might read to a missed opportunity. I would like to observe those situations in a crowd of unknown individuals. I would like to freeze them in time and stretch them to a point, when the galloping emotions would become clearly visible. The exact moments when we are somebody else, but the others don’t realize it, because out strategy is only a temporary facade. I make these minute-lasting situations the main content of my projects, without a beginning or ending. If we compare our life to an action movie, I would say I’m interested only in representing the moments when we call upon self-strength and determination; reaching deep within ourselves to achieve an almost more than human ability to resolve problems. For a long period of time I have been using various media: video, sculpture, painting. The symbolism of the materials I’m using in my sculptures and installations is a very important aspect of my work: materials physical properties, the issues of instant recognition by the viewer and everyday application – are all crucial to me. That’s why I am using common everyday materials such as paper streamers, confetti, rubber bands or isolation tape. I also try to use forms of communication, similar to the ones used by contemporary media. This simplicity and immediacy helps draw the viewers in. Only after some close observation, a viewer might (or might not) notice that the story he/she is watching is not as “colorful” as it appears at first sight. Usually I multiply the materials I’m using until I get a uniform mass. From this mass a familiar object can be formulated, but now it is an element of a new, autonomous structure. I construct all my work myself, and often the process is similarly intense and time consuming.
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