curious implantation


'Nicole Knauer Nicole Knauer

It is an installation that transcends space, with a hybrid creation made of synthetic cable ties that the artist has combined in an unconventional and very personal way. Its dimensions are extended through costumes, videos, photographs and transformation through interaction. The translucence, the ephemeral and the transience of the artist’s favorite materials and shapes that are represented in this installation can be regarded as a metaphor for the sphere between reality and absurdity. The artist’s aim is to use synthetic waste products in a different way to that which was originally intended. Half a million white synthetic cable ties have been combined manually to create a 50 square meters sculpture and costumes that mutate into utopian formations and hybrid creations. curious implantation represents a hybrid creation between nature and technology. Its appearance is amorphous, partly moved by human beings and partly by technology. It is an odd installation resembling a scene from a science fiction movie. When entering the gallery space the viewer finds a monstrous creation. The space and the sculpture are white thus visually blending into each other.

The structure of the surface, which seems to be organic at first sight, turns out to be filigree and synthetic when viewed more closely. Tightly woven white nylon cable ties cover the whole surface of the sculpture. When the viewer gets closer the sculpture starts moving, becoming alive. The installation changes from a surreal artistic landscape to a strange creature that breathes. The appearance of the surface with its cable tie implants arouses a desire to touch it. At first sight the white sculpture seems to be soft like fur or a meadow. However when touching the surface the viewer experiences an irritation through the bristly resistance of the material. The indirect lighting makes the sculpture look even softer, and therefore emphasizes the contrast to the touching experience. It is similar with the costumes. They appear light and soft, the cable ties resemble feathers or soft ribbons. When moved, they rustle like multi-layered taffeta. However, they are heavy when worn, the cable ties scratch and sting. Undressing, their inner creatures come to light: The cast-off skin of a fable creature, the baleen of a whale, cuttlefish, mussels, corals, ticks or totally unknown creatures.
http://www.nicole-knauer.de

Translated from German by Sonja Meller

curious implantation in cooperation with KunstRaum Goethestrasse, Linz.