EMBRACE ME
©Lena Kuzmich
-by Ale Zapata (Curator / External Projects Coordinator at Improper Walls)
Embrace: /ɪmˈbreɪs/
An act of putting your arms around somebody as a sign of love or friendship
[uncountable] the act of accepting an idea, a proposal, a set of beliefs, etc, especially when it is done with enthusiasm. (Oxford dictionary)
We welcomed 2021, with the exhibition EMBRACE ME, a solo show by Lena Kuzmich, a video and photography based multimedia artist from Vienna currently located in The Hague where they study photography at The Royal Academy of Art.
EMBRACE ME is a series of images that explore gender-non-conformity and queerness. It shows imaginative landscapes and hybrid representations of bodies through which stories of queer, non-binary, trans and other gender-non-conforming individuals are told. The exhibition functions as a portal to a world in which gender is not a set of rules in a power dynamic, but a free form of expression.
By means of digital photomontage, Lena created 6 large format lenticular prints. The lenticular technique creates a 3D illusion of the image and creates an interactive experience for the viewer. As the visitor moves around the exhibition space, the picture changes depending on their perspective, creating the illusion of a 3D space in the image that extends into the room and invites the visitor to dive into its world.
How does lenticular printing work?
It is a multi-step process which consists of creating an image from at least two images, and combining it with a lenticular lens. This process can be used to create various frames of animation (for a motion effect), offsetting the various layers at different increments (for a 3D effect), or simply to show a set of alternative images which may appear to transform into each other. Once the various images are collected, they are flattened into individual, different frame files, and then digitally combined into a single final file in a process called interlacing.
Embrace me, Lena Kuzmich 2020
In addition to the prints Lena Kuzmich decided to print a floor sticker which covers all the exhibition space floor’s surface (which we were eager to install by ourselves and literally cost us sweat, tears and around 7 hours of kneeling). The show was conceived to be interactive, to be immersive, to be a space where everyone can be honest, vulnerable and reflective.
How can we translate that experience when the gallery doors have to stay closed, when the audience can’t be face to face with the artworks? What is an art exhibition without an audience?
We entered 2021 with a strong feeling of hope and as the third lockdown extends, my frustration keeps on growing because I personally can not see a clear end to the uncertainty we cultural workers and artists are going through.
However every challenging situation asks for resilience and flexibility. That’s why we will continue doing what we do best : embracing the challenges as an act of resilience! And work on alternative ways to bring art to as many people as possible.
Our newest improper member Barbora Horská is the person behind EMBRACE ME’s virtual reproduction. We chose Mozilla Hubs because it allows an immersive social experience that brings users together in shared 3D spaces. You can choose an avatar or create one and share your audio with other people in the room or chat with them.
Whether you decide to visit the exhibition online, or pass through our exhibition space and look at it through the window or attend our next online event which is the IMPROPER TALK the 3rd of February livestreamed on our YouTube channel remember that one of the bravest things to do is EMBRACING your truth self during this tough times.
<— LENA KUZMICH —>