Isabella Chydenius: Dancing on my own

A site -specific installation consisting of LED light string in a small ventilator room, defining the corners and walls of the confined space, 2021

Dancing on my own is a site -specific installation consisting of LED light string in a small ventilator room, defining the corners and walls of the confined space. In the middle of the created light square, I’ve organized a pile of ripped clothes into a square on the floor.

The piece is based on the academic and artistic research focused on gender-based (un)safety and sense of belonging in the heterotopian time-space of urban nightclubs culture in current heteropatriarchal time. An element of the research examines the attire of women as a medium that we can express ourselves with and find empowerment through, while often being blamed in cases of sexual harassment and abuse; “she was asking for it by wearing that.”

I approach this body of work and practice from the lens of the colour I’ve titled Club Pink. I work with the colour pink, as I have interpreted the colour from femme and queer nightclubs as a visual metaphor for the collective associations that the spaces foster. Additionally, the square shape is a repeated pattern in my practice. The square represents my examination of the discussed time -space of “safe(r) space” nightclubs from both a physical and theoretical aspect, viewing the dichotomy of the spaces as both limited and liminal. In Dancing on my own, the shape of a square is re-created both through light and ripped clothes, while the ripped clothes and light gestures the potential of both mediums overflowing the square, escaping it’s dictated constructs.

Which kind of light sources and what other materials and equipment are used?
Custom-made LED light network, folded and organised ripped clothes.

Please provide the dimensions of the work. Approximate size will do. Please mention if the work can be adjusted. (width-height-depth):
Approx. 2,60 x 2 x 2 m

Support and other structures:
The work needs support structures, hanging points, or similar

Please state which structures, hardware or other equipment is needed from the client:
LED strips to fit exactly 200 x 200 cm square space with entrance door. LED height 260 cm. 2 plugpoints.

Minimum height of the space:
260 cm

Minimum square meters of the space:
4

Seen before at:
Site-specific installation for Premise group exhibition, Cape Town, SA, 2021

CONTACT INFORMATION

BLAF Best of Light Art in Finland
is hosted by
Finnish Light Art Society FLASH
2877700-6
LightArtFi

Producer: Annukka Ketola
annukka.ketola@valotaiteenseura.fi
+358 40 735 3972

Curators:
Mia Kivinen / mia.kivinen@valotaiteenseura.fi
Anna Björklund / anna.bjorklund@valotaiteenseura.fi

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