Territoires, Pafos Capital Culture of Europe 2017
The work that we show here is done for this event even the origin of the work goes to 6 years ago. We started to share our reflection first in BCN then in Nicosia and now here in Pafos. We share with you two visions of territory. Being both of us islander corsica and cyprus we have a different approach to territory which completes one another and gives more richness to the work.
We work separately every one in her studio in two territories completley different indipendent from each other without any rules and influences. We have two free and independent creations that meet each other and coexist in the same space.
Both of us are questioning the human approach to his territory.
For my part I can say that it is important for me to find my place in the territory and for Christine to find the land marks inorder to understand her territory.
Sometimes it gives me pleasure to think a place in which everything is perfect. When Antarctica entered to my space I didn't understand what it was telling me. I know that it has the world's most hostile climate conditions. Also know that its desert of ice is the largest in the world. I didn't know that it's glaciers contain 70% of the planets fresh water. Also didn't know that it is the only region on earth not claimed by any country and it is politically neutral.
Of cource this place was far away of my understanding of a perfect place. Who can enjoy in -80 degrees celcious? No permenent settlers and no native population can make me loose my cultural reference points.
From all these points in mind, I started to explore my journey.
I use photography of the places I have been in the nature. It gives me the awareness of being in the moment, in other words ' having been there'. When my camera's shutter is released a moment is simultaneously immortalized and gone forever. My photography is the witness of the existence of a specific thing in a specific place at a specific time.
I mixed different mediums to explore more the territory and make my journey more exited. I started to paint on my photography. This gives me the opportunity to create other spaces by using perceptions. In this way I try to create other dimensions.
By mixing two different medias( photo and painting ) I try to put emphasis on time. The layers of paintings gives me the opportunity to explore time in its transformation. This process remembers me a process of life which has no beginning and no end.
These are the things that Antarctica was telling me. All these things that are not visible to eyes. We need to look with all our eyes. I have never been in that place but I know that Antarctica embodies utopia, where extreme climate imposes freedom of research and collaborating for the good of the planet. It is the place where the immaculate whiteness contains all the wishes of humanity to spread a message of hope for future. Do you think we can create a place like this where we live? It must not be so difficult if we all live in this world and Antarctica is part of it.
Photography by: Foto Larko
Video by: Asli Bolayir