Artists: Mirjam Walter & Tomasz Skibicki
Exhibition title: UNHEIM
Curated and organized by: Mirjam Walter & Tomasz Skibicki
Venue: Kunstbunker forum für zeitgenössische Kunst, Nürnberg, Germany
Date: August 8 – December 5, 2021
Photography: SKIBICKI / all images copyright and courtesy of the artists and Kunstbunker forum für zeitgenössische Kunst
UNHEIM is a double solo exhibition organized by Mirjam Walter and Tomasz Skibicki – the winners of last year’s art-academy Nuremberg debutant-prize. The exhibition was developed by the artists especially for the space of the Kunstbunker eV.
One function of a bunker can be to protect the human being from the outer world. The inner shell is invisible from the outside, the space is only revealed once you are inside. It is a self sufficient space and completely isolated, there is no daylight and no sense of time.
UNHEIM is a fictional noun formed from the German adjective “unheimlich”. “Uncanny” is the English translation of “unheimlich” and a more literal translation would be “unhomely”. The word `heimlich’, which is the opposite of `unheimlich’, means familiar and agreeable, though by extension of this agreeableness there is also the implication of concealment and keeping that which is unpalatable out of sight.
In order to get a better understanding of UNHEIM it is worth looking into Sigmund Freud’s essay `The Uncanny’, where he claims that the ‘uncanny’ (unheimlich) refers to the uneasy sense of the unfamiliar within the familiar, the unhomely within the home. We learn from Freud that when we have an uncanny experience, we feel like there are ghosts in our house.
Both artists left the city of Nuremberg after graduating from the Academy and their show at the Kunstbunker can be seen as homecoming.
Tomasz Skibicki produces installations, sculptures, and films based on what he likes to call “firsthand encounters with second-hand stories”. The Hoarder-Gatherer’ is a research practice he has developed, where he comes into personal contact with vulgar culture objects and vernacular signs. In such investigative moments, he produces immersive video works, where he considers technique as special effects. Technique also plays a central role in the sculptures he produces. An attempt to refine traditional crafts such as wood carving and assembling to produce works that are riddles in personal and arcane narratives.
Mirjam Walter’s paintings perform poses that lack an outside. Gestures of expression and longing are combined to form a dissonant braiding, negotiating the contradictions of the present, filling the space between images with physical ambivalences.
Mirjam Walter, Portia,140 x 200 cm, Mixed media on cotton, 2021
Mirjam Walter, Portia,140 x 200 cm, Mixed media on cotton, 2021
Mirjam Walter, UNHEIM installation view, 2021
Mirjam Walter, Zonaria Collaris, 45 x 60 cm, Mixed media on cotton, 2019
Mirjam Walter, Zonaria Collaris, 45 x 60 cm, Mixed media on cotton, 2019
Mirjam Walter, UNHEIM installation view, 2021
Mirjam Walter, Untitled (booklet page), 29,7 x 42 cm, Pencil and oil on paper, 2020
Mirjam Walter, UNHEIM installation view, 2021
Mirjam Walter, Untitled, 21 x 29,7 cm, Oil on paper, 2021
Mirjam Walter, UNHEIM installation view (Portia), 2021
Mirjam Walter and Tomasz Skibicki, UNHEIM installation view, 2021
Mirjam Walter and Tomasz Skibicki, UNHEIM installation view, 2021
Mirjam Walter, UNHEIM installation view, 2021
Mirjam Walter, Live with me like I live you,130 x 190 cm, mixed media on cotton, 2021
Mirjam Walter, Live with me like I live you,130 x 190 cm, mixed media on cotton, 2021
Mirjam Walter and Tomasz Skibicki, UNHEIM installation view, 2021
Mirjam Walter, Untitled (booklet page), 29,7 x 42 cm, mixed media on paper, 2020
Tomasz Skibicki, dummy I – enemy outside, enemy within, enemy above, enemy below, dimensions variable, casted chipwood, egg yolk, plywood, found MDF Boards, 2021
Mirjam Walter and Tomasz Skibicki, UNHEIM installation view, 2021
Mirjam Walter, Untitled, 29,7 x 42 cm, mixed media on paper, 2020
Tomasz Skibicki, dummy I – enemy outside, enemy within, enemy above, enemy below, dimensions variable, casted chipwood, egg yolk, plywood, found MDF Boards, 2021
Mirjam Walter, Untitled, 29,7 x 42 cm, mixed media on paper, 2020
Mirjam Walter and Tomasz Skibicki, UNHEIM installation view, 2021
Tomasz Skibicki, dummy II – enemy outside, enemy within, enemy above, enemy below, dimensions variable, casted chipwood, egg yolk, plywood, found MDF Boards, 2021
Mirjam Walter, Untitled, 29,7 x 42 cm, mixed media on paper, 2020
Mirjam Walter, Untitled, 29,7 x 42 cm, mixed media on paper, 2020 (horizontal and vertical)
Tomasz Skibicki, hóąrdęr gąthęręr – the effort of separating coincidence from cause-and-effect, casted chipwood, egg yolk, chipboard, plywood, cut up bartered studio walls, hand crafted wood chain, hand crafted wood cable, duct tape, table rolls, dimensions variable, 2021
Tomasz Skibicki, hóąrdęr gąthęręr – the effort of separating coincidence from cause-and-effect, casted chipwood, egg yolk, chipboard, plywood, cut up bartered studio walls, hand crafted wood chain, hand crafted wood cable, duct tape, table rolls, dimensions variable, 2021
Tomasz Skibicki, hóąrdęr gąthęręr – the effort of separating coincidence from cause-and-effect, casted chipwood, egg yolk, chipboard, plywood, cut up bartered studio walls, hand crafted wood chain, hand crafted wood cable, duct tape, table rolls, dimensions variable, 2021
Tomasz Skibicki, hóąrdęr gąthęręr – the effort of separating coincidence from cause-and-effect, casted chipwood, egg yolk, chipboard, plywood, cut up bartered studio walls, hand crafted wood chain, hand crafted wood cable, duct tape, table rolls, dimensions variable, 2021
Tomasz Skibicki,hóąrdęr gąthęręr – the effort of separating coincidence from cause-and-effect, dimensions variable, casted chipwood, egg yolk, chipboard, plywood, cut up bartered studio walls, hand crafted wood chain, hand crafted wood cable, hand crafted tramp art pieces, duct tape, table rolls, 2021
Tomasz Skibicki,hóąrdęr gąthęręr – the effort of separating coincidence from cause-and-effect, dimensions variable, casted chipwood, egg yolk, chipboard, plywood, cut up bartered studio walls, hand crafted wood chain, hand crafted wood cable, hand crafted tramp art pieces, duct tape, table rolls, 2021
Tomasz Skibicki,hóąrdęr gąthęręr – the effort of separating coincidence from cause-and-effect, dimensions variable, casted chipwood, egg yolk, chipboard, plywood, cut up bartered studio walls, hand crafted wood chain, hand crafted wood cable, hand crafted tramp art pieces, duct tape, table rolls, 2021
Tomasz Skibicki, hóąrdęr gąthęręr – the effort of separating coincidence from cause-and-effect, dimensions variable, 2021
Tomasz Skibicki, hóąrdęr gąthęręr – the effort of separating coincidence from cause-and-effect, dimensions variable, 2021
Tomasz Skibicki, hóąrdęr gąthęręr – the effort of separating coincidence from cause-and-effect, dimensions variable, 2021
Tomasz Skibicki, UNHEIM installation view, 2021
Tomasz Skibicki, hóąrdęr gąthęręr – the effort of separating coincidence from cause-and-effect, dimensions variable, chipboard, plywood, cut up bartered studio walls, epoxy coated bleached fabric covered in puppet eyes, nitrous oxide capsules, iron pins, construction pro les, duct tape, table rolls, 2021
Tomasz Skibicki, hóąrdęr gąthęręr – the effort of separating coincidence from cause-and-effect, dimensions variable, chipboard, plywood, cut up bartered studio walls, epoxy coated bleached fabric covered in puppet eyes, nitrous oxide capsules, iron pins, construction pro les, duct tape, table rolls, 2021
Tomasz Skibicki, dummy I – enemy outside, enemy within, enemy above, enemy below, dimensions variable, casted chipwood, egg yolk, plywood, found MDF Boards, 2021
Mirjam Walter, Ohne Namen, dimensions variable, willow, 2021, UNHEIM installation view
Mirjam Walter, Ohne Namen, dimensions variable, willow, 2021, UNHEIM installation view
Mirjam Walter, Untitled (booklet page), 29,7 x 42 cm, pencil and oil on paper, 2020
Mirjam Walter, Ohne Namen, dimensions variable, willow, 2021, UNHEIM installation view
Mirjam Walter, Ohne Namen, dimensions variable, willow, 2021, UNHEIM installation view
Mirjam Walter, Untitled (booklet page), 29,7 x 42 cm, pencil and oil on paper, 2020
Mirjam Walter, Ohne Namen, dimensions variable, willow, 2021, UNHEIM installation view
Mirjam Walter, Untitled, 15 x 22 cm, mixed media on paper, 2021
Mirjam Walter, Unfassbar (werden), 170 x 230 cm, mixed media on cotton, 2021
Mirjam Walter, Unfassbar (werden), UNHEIM installation view, 2021
Mirjam Walter, Unfassbar (werden), 170 x 230 cm, mixed media on cotton, 2021
Mirjam Walter, UNHEIM installation view, 2021
Mirjam Walter, (the struggle for) what a title stands for and how long it will last, 140 x 200 cm, mixed media on cotton, 2021
Mirjam Walter, (the struggle for) what a title stands for and how long it will last, 140 x 200 cm, mixed media on cotton, 2021
Tomasz Skibicki, pająk (spider), dimensions variable, nitrous oxide capsules, stainless steel wire, trigger hooks, iron rings, UNHEIM installation view, 2021
Tomasz Skibicki, UNHEIM installation view, 2021
Tomasz Skibicki, pająk (spider), dimensions variable, nitrous oxide capsules, stainless steel wire, trigger hooks, iron rings, UNHEIM exhibition view, 2021
Tomasz Skibicki, ATAMEXMACHENENACZATORRECZYWSTOSCIHD – Law of Closure, dimensions variable, laser engraved plaster boards, construction pro les, 19 inch tft screens, dulltec media players, 2021
Tomasz Skibicki, ATAMEXMACHENENACZATORRECZYWSTOSCIHD – Law of Closure, dimensions variable, laser engraved plaster boards, construction pro les, 19 inch tft screens, dulltec media players, 2021
Tomasz Skibicki, ATAMEXMACHENENACZATORRECZYWSTOSCIHD – Law of Closure, dimensions variable, laser engraved plaster boards, construction pro les, 19 inch tft screens, dulltec media players, 2021
Tomasz Skibicki, ATAMEXMACHENENACZATORRECZYWSTOSCIHD – Law of Closure, dimensions variable, laser engraved plaster boards, construction pro les, 19 inch tft screens, dulltec media players, 2021
Tomasz Skibicki, ATAMEXMACHENENACZATORRECZYWSTOSCIHD – Law of Closure, dimensions variable, laser engraved plaster boards, construction pro les, 19 inch tft screens, dulltec media players, 2021
Tomasz Skibicki, UNHEIM installation view, 2021
Tomasz Scibickii, aha-erlebnis III, dimensions variable, hand crafted shin guards made from found cofn fabrics hung on stainless steel shelf, 2021
Tomasz Scibickii, aha-erlebnis III, dimensions variable, hand crafted shin guards made from found cofn fabrics hung on stainless steel shelf, 2021
Tomasz Skibicki, UNHEIM installation view, 2021
śóuvęńir – meaning-making machine, HD Video 2-channel-Installation, 2’23’’, plaster boards, construction pro les,19 inch tft screens, dulltec media players, 2021
Tomasz Skibicki, UNHEIM installation view, 2021
Tomasz Skibicki, aha-erlebnis I – birth of delusion, dimensions variable, found cerecloth, 2021
Tomasz Skibicki, UNHEIM installation view, 2021
Tomasz Skibicki, aha-erlebnis II, dimensions variable, hand crafted punching pad made from found cof n fabrics hung on stainless steel shelf, 2021
Tomasz Skibicki, anonymous drop, 20 x A4, polish manuscript found in an abandoned squat in Amsterdam, 2021
Tomasz Skibicki, anonymous drop, 20 x A4, polish manuscript found in an abandoned squat in Amsterdam, 2021
Tomasz Skibicki, anonymous drop, 20 x A4, polish manuscript found in an abandoned squat in Amsterdam, 2021
Tomasz Skibicki, anonymous drop, 20 x A4, polish manuscript found in an abandoned squat in Amsterdam, 2021
Tomasz Skibicki, anonymous drop, 20 x A4, polish manuscript found in an abandoned squat in Amsterdam, 2021
Tomasz Skibicki, anonymous drop, 20 x A4, polish manuscript found in an abandoned squat in Amsterdam, 2021
Mirjam Walter, UNHEIM installation view, 2021
Mirjam Walter, Untitled, 21 x 29,7 cm, pencil and oil on paper, 2021
Mirjam Walter, Ringe, various sizes, Ceramics, 2020
Mirjam Walter, UNHEIM installation view, 2021
Mirjam Walter, Ringe, various sizes, Ceramics, 2020
Mirjam Walter, (…), 140 x 200 cm, mixed media on cotton, 2020