Marta Kiš - "Anita Sulimanović: CITY site-specific installation in Barrel Gallery"
Catalogue preview
...And then it was as if Dogville just waited. Even the wind dropped, leaving the town in an unfamiliar calm. As if somebody had put a large cheese dish cover over it, and created the kind of quietness that descends while you're awaiting visitors.*
In hands of artist Anita Sulimanović, space of Barrel Gallery has been transformed into an unusual settlement of former dog's homes. Exhibition consists of fifteen objects found in Zagreb's suburbs or in the city, set in the gallery space in row that may remind us of settlements that are built more or less according to a plan. One of the objects rises above from the row, creating installation of interesting visual and spatial characteristics. This surreal element shows that it is not only about randomly shown found objects and their visual quality, but about multilevel story that exists behind each actor and behind the whole ensemble.
In her recent work Anita Sulimanović is using found objects transforming them into site-specific installations which main characteristic, along with clearly present concept, is visual quality, which manifests in comprehension of the space emphasized through sharp, intelligent interventions. Perhaps artist’s visual sensibility was primary strength that attracted her to picturesque kennels. But their setting into clear, rounded, symmetrical space of Barrel Gallery, alteration of their usual surrounding, dislocation and decontextualisation, make an important artistic concept, that emphasizes its visual value but also simulates new meanings or points to existing meanings.
Social component is inevitable and very important element of the work. From the word doghouse, for some of them quite inappropriate and gentle title, many issues that enclose micro and macro levels of our society can be read. Looking daily at these constructions within their primary ambient, even at the very center of Zagreb, we probably won’t notice, less likely read their multi-meanings. Diversity of kennel’s shapes, that can be view as mare curiosity, points to much more serious issues. Lack of kennel building regulations is probably much easier to comprehend through lack of same regulations in building real, big homes projects as well as whole urban entities along Croatia. Walking along Zagreb’s residential area Tresnjevka, is it realistic to expect sensitivity for best human friend’s homes, when there is no sensitivity for human itself? Kennels – homes for dogs on short chains, which limits dog’s life on only few meters of space and food – from frustration surely delivers aggression. The aggression is probably life role of the housekeeper, furious barker, frightener of potential intruder. Its insensitive owner in his hard life circumstances had no time to think about more human relation to the animal or he just copied his way of life in which some greater power is keeping him on chain. This vicious circle will not and cannot be changed by any dog or any man. Civil society will go through many more battles with its constant antagonists, more government will fall and more crises will pass until the improvement of standard and quality of life will break this inhuman practice.
By adding light accent into some of the kennels, most of us will get chance to look what is hiding inside for the first time, a chance to look the house and everything it presents from every angle. In addition to the view from above (from Gallery PM) and view from below at object hanged in the space, the author made the most of spatial possibilities that she had been offered. It is precisely these isolated inner lights that are connecting elements that may provoke apparition. Fear of what might expect us in unknown, small space. Fear of what this space presents. The artist is setting up a challenge, by minimal intervention, by installation that reminds us of an abstracted set-design of abandoned dog’s settlement, recalls many associations and sets up many questions from contemplative personal to wider social. Aiming to emphasize them, visual element as a promoter is crucial in this tale, along with perceptiveness for space primary to sculpture and powerful tool in hands of Anita Sulimanović.
Marta Kiš
* Quotation from the movie Dogville, Lars von Trier (2003)
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