Co-exhibition by Sven Parker, August Sai and Roman-Sten Tõnissoo The Simulation of Bodies, the Management of Life focuses on adjusting the aesthetics of corporative-realism to the key elements of a boutique. Taking on the key elements of commercial spectacle characteristic to commercial window displays, the artists explore the possibilities of slipping out of society. The title of the exhibition refers to the new reality based on rapid expansion of global pandemic and health crisis that is also the conceptual starting point of the exhibition. While appropriating the display window environment characteristic to a shop, the artists seek for the borders between the outer and inner space while referring to the interior and exterior inside and outside of us, colonized by the consumer society. The common trait at the exhibition by three artists lies in a certain distanced contemplation of spectacularity as well as observations in the field of manual work and the artistry of it. The artists operate under the name Gallery Mihhail, a collective agenda formed as a nomadic apartment gallery that is based on the motives of solidarity and communality.
Sven Parker’s spatial collages illustrate purchasing power in the crisis relating to an economic decline. The artist indicates to what is missing at the exposition – namely, the commodities – while testing the borders between artworks and everyday valuables. The series refers to the anarchist movements that were active in early 20th century and that practised expropriative anarchism, thus financing revolutionary activities and propaganda. Two works hung from the ceiling and a smaller glass showcase take their point of departure from the dialogue between the illusory interior of the boutique and the unexpected exterior facades of a construction site, thus becoming stage props in the context of the exhibition.
August Sai’s paintings designate the concept of double trap, an emotionally disturbing dilemma in the act of communication where an individual simultaneously receives two or more contradictory messages, whereas one message excludes another one. Double trap appears when an individual is unable to face a dilemma for some reason and therefore being also unable to find solutions to it neither to step out of the situation. Such communication model reflects the life during the era of pandemic and the relating ways of communication as well as emotions.
Roman-Sten Tõnissoo observes the illusory sense of security while streaming the actual vulnerability, thus revealing the backdoors of surveillance capitalism to the audience. Tõnissoo’s video collage is based on repetitions and belongs to the genre of unpacking. In his artwork, the artist fetishizes dangerous and strange objects that has both an erotic and meditative effect.
1st March Gallery works as a temporary projec tspace in Tallinn and is characterized by nomadism, process based art and tactical media practices. The exhibition programme is co-curated between Madli Ehasalu and Siim Preiman.
The Simulation of Bodies, the Management of Life
Artists: Sven Parker, August Sai, Roman-Sten Tõnissoo
Curator: Madli Ehasalu
3-23 February, 2021
1st March Gallery
Väike-Karja 12, Tallinn, Estonia
The Simulation of Bodies, the Management of Life 2021. Photo: Roman-Sten Tõnissoo
The Simulation of Bodies, the Management of Life 2021. Photo: Roman-Sten Tõnissoo
The Simulation of Bodies, the Management of Life 2021. Photo: Roman-Sten Tõnissoo
The Simulation of Bodies, the Management of Life 2021. Photo: Roman-Sten Tõnissoo
The Simulation of Bodies, the Management of Life 2021. Photo: Roman-Sten Tõnissoo
The Simulation of Bodies, the Management of Life 2021. Photo: Roman-Sten Tõnissoo
The Simulation of Bodies, the Management of Life 2021. Photo: Roman-Sten Tõnissoo
The Simulation of Bodies, the Management of Life 2021. Photo: Roman-Sten Tõnissoo
The Simulation of Bodies, the Management of Life 2021. Photo: Roman-Sten Tõnissoo
The Simulation of Bodies, the Management of Life 2021. Photo: Roman-Sten Tõnissoo
The Simulation of Bodies, the Management of Life 2021. Photo: Roman-Sten Tõnissoo
The Simulation of Bodies, the Management of Life 2021. Photo: Roman-Sten Tõnissoo
The Simulation of Bodies, the Management of Life 2021. Photo: Roman-Sten Tõnissoo
The Simulation of Bodies, the Management of Life 2021. Photo: Roman-Sten Tõnissoo
The Simulation of Bodies, the Management of Life 2021. Photo: Roman-Sten Tõnissoo
The Simulation of Bodies, the Management of Life 2021. Photo: Roman-Sten Tõnissoo
The Simulation of Bodies, the Management of Life 2021. Photo: Roman-Sten Tõnissoo
The Simulation of Bodies, the Management of Life 2021. Photo: Roman-Sten Tõnissoo
The Simulation of Bodies, the Management of Life 2021. Photo: Roman-Sten Tõnissoo
The Simulation of Bodies, the Management of Life 2021. Photo: Roman-Sten Tõnissoo
The Simulation of Bodies, the Management of Life 2021. Photo: Roman-Sten Tõnissoo
The Simulation of Bodies, the Management of Life 2021. Photo: Roman-Sten Tõnissoo
The Simulation of Bodies, the Management of Life 2021. Photo: Roman-Sten Tõnissoo
The Simulation of Bodies, the Management of Life 2021. Photo: Roman-Sten Tõnissoo
The Simulation of Bodies, the Management of Life 2021. Photo: Roman-Sten Tõnissoo
