For the #Intervention series at the Porgy&Bess jazz club , Zhanina Marinova has created an installation from a new series of screen prints for both the public domain and the room in the staircase leading to the club.
#Intervention_02
ZhaninaMarinova
March 20 to June 2, 2024
daily from 16:00 - 23:00
ARTIST TALK
Paula Marschalek in conversation with Zhanina Marinova
Tuesday, May 7, 2024, 6.30 - 8.00 pm
in the Strengen Kammer at Porgy&Bess
In a relaxed living room atmosphere, art historian Paula Marschalek and artist Zhanina Marinova talk about the new work INTERSTICE, which deals with the perception of space and time as well as the gaps and cracks that connect our lives and are part of our identity.
Paula Marschalek on the artistic work of Zhanina Marinova
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"Transparent bodies, mirroring shadows" is the fourth chapter of Zhanina Marinova's ongoing INTERSTICE project.
INTERSTICE - a space or place between things and events - represents the space and time we don't have; the gaps and cracks that ultimately connect our lives and are part of our identity. "Transparent bodies" is a metaphor for certain memories and thoughts one may have that are materialized in an in-between place - namely the mind and heart. These can be people, places, events or words we have experienced that shape our perception of life.
The works in the installation at Porgy&Bess are unique screen prints based on analog ink drawings. Each piece is unique and yet has a repetitive character, like the memories, thought processes and feelings that we can individually experience on a daily basis.
Point of View
About the artistic work of Zhanina Marinova
In her artistic practice, Zhanina Marinova deals intensively with the relationship between presence and absence as well as with spaces in between and explores both the physical and metaphorical meaning of these conditions in her colorful works. Originally from Bulgaria, the artist strives in her art to make the experiences, emotions and thoughts that drive us humans in our existence visible and tangible, so her works always invite interaction. In her work, she also technically combines two different worlds: she completed a classical education in Varna, which included academic drawing, printmaking, painting and sculpture. On the other hand, she completed the class for printmaking at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna, which gave her freedom and self-determination in dealing with the various techniques and materials. Shifting between screen printing, drawing, installation and book art, her work focuses on playful exploration, dialog with various materials and ambivalent formulations.
The medium Marinova mainly works with is screen printing based on analog drawings on a scale of 1:1, supplemented by additional layers of material, sprayed paint or brushed ink. This requires both technical skill and inspiration and plays a major role in her artistic work. The starting point of the analog process is always a drawing of abstract patterns and moving structures, which are then transferred to transparent film to be placed on the prepared screen and exposed in the next step. After carefully washing out the screen, the motif is revealed and then finds its way onto various materials, be it paper, fabric, canvas, mesh, transparent film or Plexiglas. Marinova's interest focuses on surfaces that not only thematize physical permeability, but also question the complex boundaries between visibility and invisibility on the one hand and represent intermediate spaces on the other. The artist explores the limits of what is possible by distorting, expanding and staggering the layers. In doing so, she experiments with size, form and color and expresses her own feelings and ideas. She often prints three to four different layers to create the desired intensity, color and depth. Although the creation process is characterized by constant repetition, each piece is unique as a monotype and focuses on her own fantasy and imagination. These depict an impressive variety of overlays and combinations that allow different motifs to merge together. Flowing movements, energetic dynamics and organic forms inspired by the environment invite an individual narrative that captures the subtle nuances of life. During the creative process, the final level, the interweaving with the space, remains open. In addition to initial mental illustrations, the spatial realization and presentation of a work is tied to its location and thus also to chance and intuitive processes. This dynamic gives the process a certain freedom and a natural flow.
The processual nature is not only reflected in the technique used by Marinova, but also in the selection of works included in a series, as each series is made up of several parts. The installation Transparent bodies, mirroring shadows shown at Porgy & Bess represents the fourth chapter of the extensive INTERSTICE project, in which interstices, whether temporal or spatial, are more precisely defined and characterized. Interstitial spaces can be understood as empty spaces, interfaces or transitions that connect different concepts, ideas and realities and thus enable new interpretations. Marinova uses these aspects of ambiguity and complexity to reveal facets of identity, culture, history and politics, to create tension, to point out gaps in life to the viewer and thus to illustrate the complexity of human existence. Viewers are thus challenged to look beyond the obvious and make new connections, to deal with the ambivalences of life and explore different perspectives. Memories from her childhood act as a source of inspiration for this, lending her works a palpable lightness. A playful paradox can be found in each of her artistic creations, inviting viewers to look at life with a twinkle in their eye. The titles of her works are designed like little riddles, often with humorous contradictions. These deliberate inconsistencies create a unique dynamic and encourage the viewer not only to look at the works superficially, but also to explore their deeper layers.
The brightly colored, translucent and fragile works in the Transparent bodies, mirroring shadows series float at different heights and react to the movements made towards them by slowly swaying back and forth. Surprise and subtle depths play a decisive role in both the design and the hanging. Marinova deliberately works with the existing mirrors to create an unexpected dimension in the viewing experience and to positively challenge the audience. If you look at the screen prints in the mirror, only then are you presented with the front, but at the same time a reflection of the surroundings and the viewer is captured. This level not only creates an aesthetic fascination, but also appeals to viewers to question their own perception and explore the relationship between the self, the art and the space.
This inclusion of mirrors illustrates a thought process that goes beyond the obvious. It encourages us not to look at everything superficially, but to explore the hidden layers and meanings that lie beneath the apparent surface. Through this artistic choice, Marinova creates an interactive experience that invites viewers to question their own role in the artwork and discover new perspectives.
The Same but different series is presented in the form of Plexiglas blocks with two sides, each containing different works and narrative elements. This composition makes it possible to view a story from different angles and interpretations. However, due to the clear and transparent nature of the Plexiglas, not all levels are always visible at the same time. The artist thus offers a dynamic experience and invites viewers to explore different perspectives and possibilities. This fascinating interaction between art and viewer allows for an exploration of such complexity and depth in the work.
The play with the viewer and the attempt to repeatedly evoke a change of perspective testify to an openness towards complexity and ambivalence and a willingness to deepen the superficial moments and perspectives with the help of paradoxes. This willingness is reflected in the work in numerous dimensions, from the creative process and the choice of material to the hanging and final presentation, and allows the viewer to participate interactively in this dynamic.
Text by Paula Marschalek
The #Intervention series is curated by Galerie Rudolf Leeb.
Visits daily from 16:00 - 23:00
PORGY & BESS
1010 Vienna, Riemergasse 11
www.porgy.at
#Intervention_02 Website Jazzclub >>>
Illustrations: Close ups from the installation, screen print 2024
