OROŃSKO, Poland—Polish-born, US-based spacial artist Kamila Szczęsna’s exquisite bulbous neuron-like forms with their reaching dendrites and axons in her latest immersive installation Process 2 (May 27 – September 17, 2017) traverse through Orangery Gallery rapid firing vast sensory input, evaluating and extruding perception—each experience shaping and informing the next.
Tirelessly spinning particles, explosions of freely migrating atoms, electrons effortlessly passing through our bodies; and all forming the world we try to consciously evaluate, explain and build on. With each breath we ourselves are changing.
Process 2, Exhibition view
Process 2, Exhibition view
The work explores the process of creation. As makers and creators find themselves immersed, and even stuck, in achieving their final vision, a product, they lose perspective on the process, and the artistry within. Szczęsna’s invites not only the viewer, but also fellow artists, to evaluate their own real-time evaluation and perception of art.
Searching, making mistakes, returning, revising, making rules or limitations and changing them. All of this is happening in the studio in an atmosphere of suspense and a certain finality. Formulating questions can be more important than searching for answers. This usually takes place backstage. “Process 2” is an invitation to the viewer to explore this territory with me.
Process 2, Exhibition view
Process 2, Exhibition view
Process 2, Exhibition view
Szczęsna, who’s known for incorporating DNA and hair into her work, says she attempts to freeze moments by embalming them with clay explaining she uses old terracotta-colored clothing as a myelin sheath encasing her ceramic forms—the clothing serving as a vehicle of perception and memory. At night, the shadows and highlights of the installation are intensified suggesting memories settling during REM sleep.
The parts of this installation are derived from the shapes of the human body approached through the forms of the clothing utilized as a second skin by their previous owners. They are infused with memories and denote a semblance of the character and circumstance of their lives. This fabric now carries information no longer accessible.
Process 2, Exhibition view
Process 2, Exhibition view
Process 2, Exhibition view
Process 2, Exhibition view
Check out this walk-through of the exhibition in this video. Szczęsna says she strapped a camera to her head allowing the viewer to take in the installation with her as she walked through it.
Do you love or loathe this exhibition from the worlds of contemporary ceramic art and contemporary ceramics. Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Add your valued opinion to this post.