Salty Water
Paulina Olowska
What of Salty Water
Bonnie Camplin
Exhibition on view: May 26, 2007-July 1, 2007
Opening: May 25, 2007, 8pm
Press talk: May 25, 2007, 11am
This shared installation is a seamless and simultaneous coexistence of two: Salty Water by Paulina Olowska and What of Salty Water by Bonnie Camplin.
Its an intricate configuration of made and gathered objects and images, a product of collaboration and a shared extemporaneous (free fall) voyage and a way into comprehending the modern world and coming to terms with the consequences and manifestations of industrialization and free market economy. Also its an intense meditation on the nature of trade, exchange and trust. This includes sex trade and how it incorporates versions of solidarity and collaboration between women. As both artists view themselves as women workers, they consider how this relates to their position as professional artists.
Collaboration between us has been based on working with two points of departure, one is very personal memory based reference and one is an outsiders view of myths and symbols. Both artists can inhabit both of these positions in relation to themselves and each other. Olowska is from Gdansk and Camplin is from London. Solidarnosc and Colonial history are obvious examples of symbolic and direct influences on the artists.
A boat was found and became a kind of stage onto which were gathered various bits of the haul from our shared venture. Memories in the fabric of the boat/stage of imagined female personalities who embarked on an epic voyage now washed up wrecked in interior space by a wall that also tells stories of misadventure. Apparently our protagonists have passed through psychic spaces where there are no laws of exterior/interior or of scale (like in Gullivers Travels). The installation is a haunted and moody theatrical tableau that sparkles faintly in the dark just like the glitter of putrescence.
A performance will take place on the day of the opening.
A publication will accompany this exhibition at the Portikus (scheduled to appear in late July, 2007).
For further information or guided exhibition tours please contact Portikus: info@portikus.de
PORTIKUS
Alte Brücke 2 Maininsel
60594 Frankfurt am Main
Germany
Telephone 49 69 962 44 54-0
Facsimile 49 69 962 44 54-24
