Artists: Anu Vahtra and Martin Lukáč
Exhibition title: Interpreter’s Booth
Curated by: Piotr Sikora
Venue: Lucie Drdova Gallery, Prague, The Czech Republic
Date: September 9 – October 21, 2017
Photography: all images copyright and courtesy of the artists and Lucie Drdova Gallery
Interpreter’s Booth
An exhibition in two chapters by Anu Vahtra and Martin Lukáč
Curated by Piotr Sikora
Ignotum per ignotius
Unknown by more unknown
Not to create any doubtful theories around the following exhibition I wish to state that interpreter’s booth I’m referring to in the title is a banal square construction build with a clear purpose to host translators during conferences or any other events that demands simultaneous translation.
Art demands a simultaneous translation or as Ranciere refers to it in Emancipated Spectator, art is a simultaneous translation where relationship between content producer (actor) and content receiver (viewer) is fluent and free from any form of stratification. Openness of art lies in the fact that (despite music) this visual discipline is the most abstract one. Indeed what we are dealing with the most is a message without words, a shape rather than a story and a sensation rather than a plot. Interpretation is a tool to understand art. By all means.
Let’s imagine a situation in the muted booth where both of the interpreters instead of work decided to talk to each other. Their microphones are turned off and we cannot hear them at all. Observing their gesture and mimics I become more aware that what I’m looking at know it’s more of a performance than a dialogue. It has no informative side. Question remains what language do they use to communicate. Most likely both of them.
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If you wish to get a tip how to read following exhibition I’d suggest to concentrate on the surroundings rather than pieces per se.
In Anu’s artistic practice we follow banal objects from the environment around us being transferred visually and contextually into abstract images or artifacts. What was before an unnoticed fragment of the interior a tight corner or a plane shape of a white square is animated by artist’s gesture and becomes an art piece. As simple as that.
Surroundings is being reproduced and turned into an abstract piece.
Key words: animation, concept, cleanness.
Similar tactics is present in Martin’s paintings. By default abstract canvas are never just being hanged inside of the white and sterile cube. Furthermore they contaminate the space around them so the expression from the paintings goes beyond and fill in the gallery with all kind of objects whether they are shoes, nets, wooden panels or banner prints.
An abstract art piece affect the surroundings and turn in into environmental installation.
Key words: gesture, expression, contamination.
To be continued…
