|
Gallery 'Basement',
Novi Sad, SCG
25 October - 30 October 2004
Curator: Maja Erdeljanin
award
|
A
series of extraordinary portrait photographies of the Artistic couple
MP is a consequence of a complex mental and performative research in behavior
of the two artists. The photographies presented at this exhibition are
of autobiographic character – the artists wrapped their heads with plastic
strip/foil thus setting themselves in the marginal existential situation.
In such a “forced”, and at any rate ultimate situation, they have dedicated
themselves to investigating of their own being. The INSIDE situation,
state of mind, the most stressed emotionality – have all been provoked
by simulated physical, disability of function of the organs of seeing
and hearing, choking, existential fear and trauma. The artists, thus set
in a position between Eros and Tanatos in a crystallized manner, have
brought themselves into the condition of experiencing their own heart-beats,
emotionality, and their proper physical and psychological vitalism.
One
of the basic principles of the past behaving/acting of the artistic couple
MP art has been founded on exploring and appreciating of male – female
principles and reactions. This project follows the very same pattern.
However the final result is a unique “overlapping” of attitudes and feelings.
Anima and Animus, Eros and Tanatos have equal meaning, which manifests
through androgen synthesis – and the cycle starts where the previous ends,
which in a way, is confirmed by the performance…
In their past acting the Artistic couple MP the artistic existentialism
has been the constant principle. Experience of living is simultaneously
the experience of artistic work. This accentuated autobiographic syndrome
can be apprehended through artistic behavior, especially so through their
intention that every performance, which is, after all, the elementary
form of artistic engagement, presents their own understanding of the world
and the time that we live in. The artistic couple MP is trying to point
at the position of a contemporary person. They do not offer such an “artistic
message “in the sense of metaphoric mark but, instead, through their own
experience, through their giving of themselves, maybe even sacrifice,
in order to reach defined conclusions useful to beneficiaries of their
own artistic action. The two artists are saying their confessions through
their works. Every confession is of subjective nature, while sincerity
is immanent. In these works the sincerity is, due to the stressed existential
danger, strongly expressed. That’s why, I feel this exhibition of the
Artistic couple MP, titled Mental Ghetto, is a testimonial that
adequately testifies of a turbulent time of permanent crises, a time of
insecurity and jeopardy, a time which takes true spiritual and creative
power to prevail.
Sava Stepanov
|
