GuestRoomMaribor2013

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Linda Van Dalen (NL)

The artist introduced her work with ephemeral sculpture made out of glasses with vine and cereal grain on the cafeteria table. She arranged white and red wine in two colour fields, with the words “MENTAL SPACE” written with cereal grain in the middle and divided the words with a bunch of grains and stones in the middle. Transience and changeability that were initiated with the things which are usually expected in these introductive-social events therefore “wine and bread”, the artist with selected words and by emphasizing the division leads towards concept of duality and dynamic relationship between realistic and mental, between narrations of individual’s internal spaces and the question how they specify external reality. The artist continued her sculptural situation of word, wine and cereal grain by creating a video Because people see things differently. As in the previous work, the starting point here is also a duality. Through the mode of framing it is expressed directly; however at the same time the video does not deal with individual personification of duality, but interim, therefore relationship. Two locations, two faces, one face divided in two, street reality, action inside the reflection of window glass are just few of the scenes that follow in the associative- imaginary flow of images and sensations. Purpose connects both of the chosen locations- they are places of entertainment, relaxation and socializing -former Casino now Salon, cafe, the place of amusement and city swimming pool complex Mariborski otok on river Drava. At the time of recording both places were unpopulated. The artist connected these places into a video collage of snap views, recorded moments, aesthetic frame cuts and everyday scenes - glowing stripes gliding down the bare shoulder, textile sliding down the body, body in a specific position, captured on the stairs of the emptied pool. Video leads the focus in to co-design of the two surfaces - the body and the surroundings. Usually the body is still, things are moving. Artist’s mapping of the area is personal, bound to the projection of the intimate in to the existing space.

Text: Petra Kapš