Dancing Emptiness (physis in
techne)
Description of Installation Elements:
"Gaia in a Box" Video and Slide Installation
of the five elements (fire, water, earth, air, wood)
on five perpendicular walls of a room
A large-scale abstract, systematic representation
of the composition of matter and the gaia-ecosystem and humanÕs perspective
of it. usually these elements are contained within and around the spherical
planet body of earth, here they are translated into a square box/room
perspective, which enhances the experience of difference between organic
(round, flowing) being and artificial (linear,static, confined) construction.
"Water-Dance" Room-size, large-scale video projection with macro-footage
of the ever-changing structure and texture of water (as cloud, creek, river, pond,
waterfall, ocean)
One-hour video loop projected on a large wall space or hanging screenstructure.
(Water-metaphor: rhythm of life, ever-lasting change, effortless flow of universal
energy, endlessly different manifestations of the same substance/being.)
"Firewall" Large-scale video projections of Fire/Flame structuresperpendicular or opposite to Waterdance-projections
One-hour video loop
(Fire-metaphor: Decomposition and regeneration of the same primal substance
as different physical properties. Nurturing and destructing aspects of being)
"Himmel-Hoch" (Sky-Paintings) Multi-panel installation of modulated
digital photographs of sunsets of the pacific (clouds, sea, colored light). Images
of vertical, or angled sunset-skies, taken out of their usual horizontal
perspective, become natural abstract-expressive "paintings": Layers of beautiful
color-gradients and intricate textures that the eye and mind disassociates with
the romantic idea of a sunset and rather indulges in the perfection of color and
shading.
(Sunset-metaphors: ending, transience, completion of a cycle and the
melancholic awareness of time fleeting, the experience of the inability to capture
ever-changing beauty)
Wolkenrohrschach
(Cloud-association)
(click here for more artwork samples)
Multi-panel slide installation of modulated digital photographs of
clouds.
The mirror images of cloud formations make intricate
compositions that resemble the images used in the rohrschachtest of psychoanalysis.
(Clouds-metaphor: Clouds are like ideas and imaginationspowerful and dramatic at times or playful and light, but of non-
physical substance, primal matter to become materialized in
actions and results (rain and rivers)
"Rohrschachtest"- momentary incidental composition of clouds
evoke cognitive reactions, distinct associations to known
concept and experiences s in our human mind)
"Nature's little people" Large-scale Slide or Video
Projections of wood pieces, pebbles, shells and flowers, static
or in movement (computer-animated), in isolation or interaction
with each other, recontextualized to be viewed as sculptural
objects rather than organic debris.
(Metaphor: individuality and uniqueness of each particle, each
organism, each human- shaped by their genes, their
surroundings and conditioning- each with unique character (istics), textures and edges. Precious in their singularity,
subordinated within a bigger organic system as one of the
whole. Flowers: metaphor for pure beauty, innocence and
optimism- being "the best one can be")
"Aion"* Digital Collages (click here for more artwork
samples)
In this series of digital collages (printed by Digitograf process on
canvas, various sizes) I am combining digital photographs of
natural objects like stones, feathers, nuts, shells etc. with
layered geometrical linework.
Reflecting upon the inherent geometry of the natural objects by
transposing geometrical linework I am exploring the universal
language of geometric symbolism.
Geometric structures are the basic building blocks of the
material universe- all biological, chemical and electromagnetic
particles can be broken down into the primal non-physical
structure of geometry. The creation, understanding and
application of geometric forms were vital steps towards the
development of human culture. Until today art, writing,
architecture, science and spirituality all rely on the basic
concepts of geometry.
Basic geometry- lines, circles, spirals, triangles etc.- emanate
subtle inherent frequencies and trigger intuitive understanding
of fundamental concepts within the human's psyche.
By engaging the ancient intuitive rather than the discriminating
intellectual perception the mandala-like Aion Collages reflect on
the pure visual properties of natural objects and the subtle
radiance of geometric symbols- both are very close to the
essence of life and thus are visual events that are universally
understood, before and after word and language.
*aion-greek the eternal
concept by barbara streiff
artist statement • • • back to intro