TANGIBLE NARRATIVES (2018)
collaborative project by Klára Petra SZABO and
Tamás SZVET
thermo paint; projection; archive images; audio; textile / variable dimension
developed during the ART INSIDE OUT - artist in residency program
thermo paint; projection; archive images; audio; textile / variable dimension
developed during the ART INSIDE OUT - artist in residency program
Äskhult / Halland County / Sweden
Tangible Narratives (2018) is an audio-visual installation,
where textiles and a digital archive merge into a site-specific experience as
the visitors interact with a heritage site and become engaged with the history
of Äskhult village. The collaboration was developed during the ART INSIDE OUT
artist in residency: “Shift Äskhult – digital and textile
storytelling” program in Sweden
How contemporary art engages with history, memory, and
cultural heritage?
Working with history through archives – as an artist – gives
the opportunity to bring back forgotten stories or even unwritten stories.
Making memories accessible – as artistic gestures – is one of the most
interesting themes of our time. In the last couple of years, collective memory
as a concept acquired a renewed status in the field of contemporary art,
something that might originate from recent anniversaries of significant
historic events like the First and Second World War. Engaging memory – and
cultural heritage – with art, might help us to understand better ourselves
and our history through new figurations and interpretations of the
past. The re-published memories could become a way to focus on the immaterial cultural
heritage and the recalled knowledge has the capacity to be used as a
facilitator of rethinking issues of contemporary life.
How can artistic techniques and technology bring the
immaterial heritage further?
Connecting immaterial cultural heritage with artistic
techniques and technology is a very exciting field nowadays. The project aims
to make history tangible by visualizing a story as if the buildings are still
kept the aura and imprint of the former owners. By mixing the traditional
interior with technological effects, the project generates a shift of
perception of the past, present, and - with the knowledge we gain and keep
- for the future.
The site-specific work is presented within the historical
site: in the house that belonged to the Jönsas, a family from Äskhult. Hanging
textiles show and hide images of the owners by using different media and
technologies. Some images are projected on transparent fabric and let the
interior be visible behind, extending the life traces of its makers. Life-sized
people are positioned in the real space where ventilated air movements make the
projections to be animated and seemingly alive. One textile is covered with
thermo paint and the heat-sensitive pigment reacts to alterations of
temperature, therefore images can appear and disappear. The visible content
(projection) is accompanied by a microscopic sound recording (fire) and the
period set temperature alteration (for the Thermo paint) also supports the
whole experience.
What is relevant and interesting - in the story of Äskhult
village - to pay attention to today?
In the history of Äskhult, we chose a story
of a fire outbreak (21st January, 1953) as a symbol of change. The fire was a
disaster, but in such an event, the locals gathered and prevented from spreading
any further. In this act, positive social behavior appeared. In a fire,
something can be lost forever, but others – knowledge and immaterial property –
can be kept alive, if we cooperate. The Tangible Narrative project aims to achieve this goal.
SPECIAL THANKS to: Art Inside Out residency program, Petra Johansson (artistic director Art Inside Out); Wendela Sanne Örhnell (head of Äskhult and Naturum, municipality Kungsbacka); Davor Abazovic (producer AIO), Jesper Norda (artist; university adjuntus in Design vid Högskolan för Design och Konsthantverk Gothenburg); Hanna Bergman (graphic designer); Henrik Sputnes, (AIO journal); Kristina Meiton (film maker); Hallands Kulturhistoriska Museum, Varbergs; Elisabeth Fahrman (archivist Hallands Kulturhistoriska Museum);
PHOTO CREDITS: Anna-Britta
Andreasson (1866-1958) photo: Olof Behm around 1930,; Johannes Andreasson
(1870-1953) photo: Stig Tornehed; Gottfrid Pettersson (1897-1964), photo: 1958.
HT-Bild – Arne Alfredsson; Hanna Göök (1901-1958) photo: Stig Tornehed around
1953
Klára Petra
SZABÓ is interested
in the human body - a superficial indicator - that simultaneously talks about IDENTITY,
social status, and cultural situation. She usually focuses on the relationship
between personal identity and self-representation. She is continuously experimenting with the suitability
for artistic use of various materials, while also exploring the possible ways
of ’intermedializing’ and DIGITALIZING traditional techniques.
Tamas SZVET is operating at the intersection of
perception, technology, and their social influence. After a sculpture and
media studies, he investigated the possibility to augment the perception in the
dimension of time, and MEMORY, and reflect it into the real space. He works
mainly on community-specific projects, based on engagement, so interaction is a key element of his activity. He
uses archives – and the collective memory – for his work and he wrote his
PhD research about INTERACTIVE ARCHIVES.
ART INSIDE OUT is a nomadic
institution for artist-in-residence in all art forms and genres. Artists are
invited to explore the possibilities for their own art, as well as exploring
new collaborations, with the county of Halland as a playing field. Through an
open process that leaves room for the unforeseen, there is the opportunity for
new discourse, where art generates creative solutions and new ways of seeing
the world. Art Inside Out is operated by Region Halland, together with the
municipalities of Falkenberg, Hylte, Kungsbacka, Laholm, and
Varberg.