Vesna Bukovec

Desired Restraints

Exhibition: Desired Restraints, Online Exhibition
Location: Artyčok.tv
Date: July 17 – August 17, 2011

Curator: Ida Hiršenfelder (SI)

Artists: Ana Čigon (SI) , Vesna Bukovec (SI) , Jasna Hribernik & Zmago Lenárdič (SI) , Tomaž Frulan (SI)

DESIRED RESTRAINTS
The question ‘What do you really truly want in life?’ seems like an advertisement for another product, another best selling self-help DVD video series promoting complete control for the disoriented subject. In lustrous and slick setting a soothing voice tames an individual and instructs it how to design one’s lifestyle or career to become free of all the doubts about one’s own identity. The analogy between choice and freedom, as philosopher Renata Salecl has disclosed in her analysis of choice, is one of the deepest delusions of the late capitalism. Limitless choices do not liberate us, but rather make us more than anything else constantly on the brink of a mental break down. The pressure of choosing everything puts unbearable pressure on an individual who should not have been taken responsible for the state she/he is in (e.g. social class).
A resonance of this theory echoes in numerous gestures of video artists – we present a selection of four video performances – that create absurd situations to express a deep psychological angst. The brilliant satire of their works lies in their clear and simplified narrative that hits the very core of the problem by portraying one small banality of fabricated ideals for a perfectly designed life.
The video performances are defined by constant repetitions which bring about a sense of gloomy discomfort and aggressive self-destructive and irrational behavior. The performing artists seem disoriented or numb and above all anxious, because there seems to be no space outside of their state of mind, they are unable to break free from the constrains.
There is no suggestion on how to untangle their unpleasant situation, no instant gratification, only compulsory repetitive behavior.

Ida Hiršenfelder

Artyčok.TV [international research, media and digital archive of the contemporary art] is a research institution focusing on the young and emerging contemporary art scene in the international context. Audiovisual features are published daily and freely accessible on the internet platform http://artycok.tv. The digital archive enables a quality driven analysis of local art scenes and provides an efficient understanding of varied local aspects and working methods.

More info:
Artyčok.tv, Online Exhibition: Desired Restraints

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I am participating with the video It Will Be OK, 2009.