Inside Out

04.11. - 17.12.2005

Opening 
Friday, 04. November 2005,  7 – 9 pm
 

Antje Wachs Gallery is pleased to announce Inside Out, a new installation and performance by the Swiss artist Clarina Bezzola. For Bezzola who lives in New York and has shown in America numerous times, this is her first solo show in Europe. Bezzola will stage her performance live two times: November 4 and 25, 2005.

Clarina Bezzola’s work focusses on the psychological universe. Over the years Bezzola has been exploring the various aspects of the protective shields and barriers we build up to avoid exposing our “inappropriate” and unpolished selves. Bezzola’s sculptures are predominantly made of fabric. Her drawings and photographs demonstrate the evolution of her concept and the choreographic aspects of her performances.

Inside Out visualizes the experience of hiding our true selves to achieve comfort and security. The high price we pay in return for this certainty is the loss of direct access to our creative source. The performance begins with Bezzola showing her repulsively fat self, dressed in a big grey suit. Barely able to move, or breathe, she starts relieving her ballast, giving life to countless humorous and colourful sculptures. As she feels better, she becomes more expressive vocally as well and fills the room with operatic proclamations of her thoughts. Once the suit opens up completely, the viewer can be introduced to an entire community of characters. They loudly pronounce their true selves after years of imprisonment. The performance ends with her leaving the room liberated from her massive protec- tive shield without the need of any protection at all.

We are also pleased to present “Nur ein Traum” in our project space, our first exhibition with Steve Viezens, a young painter from Leipzig.Viezens’ small scale oil paintings depict fantastic, pensive and romantic subjects. The artists’ inspiration comes mostly from his dreams, his imagination and books. The characters in his paintings are positioned in front of dramatic landscapes which remind of the Flamish old masters. They invite the viewer to step closer and to stimulate his imagination.