Objects – Prague Quadrennial 2015
Nova-Sin Gallery, Prague, Czech Republic
Curator: Tomas Svoboda
Objects, was curated as part of the Prague Quadrennial 2015 (18th – 23rd June 2015)
Visit: 18th June 2015
Any questions as to the selection of objects on the plinth, is answered by the film, which shows us a range of theatre professionals, against a black background. Each is telling a story whilst holding and playing with a particular object. The narrative told by the custodian, is the history of the object, its significance in certain productions, how the object was found and variously the performing life of the thing, whether a poodle, a cat, a unicorn, an umbrella, a chair or flying pig. Some of the stories are read, others performed, but all speak to the significance and emotional connection to the thing, sometimes poignant and at other times humorous. The status of the thing its-self is in question. In its lifetime, it can operate as a ready-made, a thing already existing and looking for another kind of purpose, or its a prop within a production or an aide memoire to the telling of a story of the life of something else. The success of this exhibition is in the way we enter the space and firstly encounter the objects, as ready-made, the significance of which could be throwaway and multiple, until we then encounter the performers, quickly realising that these are not just any objects, but ultimately significant and of great value.