IN TURBULENT PERFIDIOUS HEIGHTS [2003]

Set-up

A large polyester pond set in a 4 square meter concrete base is installed next to a dog's kennel. The performer is in a lying position with his arms, legs and head popping out. Next to him is the polyester mannequin of a 6-year old child, whose legs are also popping out of the walls. The face of the adult is in the water and his right hand is protectively resting on the child's head, which is in the 'house'. The openings for the arms, legs and head are made to measure so that the 'house' structure can fit perfectly.
The performer is lying on the floor; his face is hidden and exposed to a flow of water falling constantly from a height of 2 meters.

Concept

The hand of the performer protects the immature child, protects innocence, which feels safe in the house, near the essence of things, near the body of the mother. The head of the performer is under a constant flow of water, something that shows that the family dimension comes from the outside, that it is a basic item that means life but also touches the body and soul in an active and aggressive way. This means that the 'house', i.e. the body is submitted to the influence of the forces at hand that have a destructive influence on psyche. The strength of the protective inside, of warmth and comfort are present but passive. The house becomes a kennel, which symbolises the animal instinct, intuition, feelings, and external and internal senses. When the child will grow up, he will leave the house and be increasingly exposed to the outside world.
The 4m x 4m base used as the ultimate form of abstraction is in grey and hard concrete and refers to the extreme expression of order. Questioning the order imposed by artificial structures tormenting the base, i.e. the soul, is at hand.
In stormy weather along sinuous paths on all fronts and at all levels human standards and values are getting blurred.

'Hand made' refers to manual work, to handicraft, to lovingly building something that then becomes precious. This is in total contradiction to mass production and consumption that favour what is trivial and superficial.
The set-up is livid, cold and sleek, almost abstruse, whilst the internal expression of the image gives the spectator a full experience of things. This form of artwork strengthens the conceptual message.