"Fungi" (flocking, velvet on various surfaces)
Vedea, Mechelen (Belgium) 2009
To draw attention to the natural beauty of the fungus growing on one of the walls and emphasise its tactile quality, a velvety layer resembling fungus was applied to other surfaces in the room, spreading on to the door handle, pipes, radiator, window and curtains, making the whole space tactile. This reinforced the lingering atmosphere of nostalgia and melancholia accentuating the beauty of natural process of decay. A sofa was placed in the room facing the window, providing the visitor a possibility fro contemplation and reflection.
I have also performed a butoh* inspired improvisation in the treated space.
* butoh is the collective name for a diverse range of activities, techniques and motivations for dance, performance, or movement inspired by the Ankoku-Butoh movement. It typically involves playful and grotesque imagery, taboo topics, extreme or absurd environments, and is traditionally "performed" in white-body make up with slow hyper-controlled motion, with or without an audience.