LIFE IS A STORY. THE SCOTTISH EPISODE
Izabella Gustowska
7 Mar - 4 Apr
LOCATION Throughout Threshold artspace, Perth Concert Hall
TIMES Mon-Sat 10am-6pm or late on performance evenings
ADMISSION Always free
LIFE IS A STORY. THE SCOTTISH EPISODE is the first solo exhibition in Britain by the internationally acclaimed Polish artist Izabella Gustowska. The centrepiece of the exhibition is the latest Horsecross commission under the same title – a 22-channel artist's video installation on view at the Threshold Wave showing in a cinematic loop which cycles every 6 minutes. The work also continues at the Threshold Stage and Threshold Flush areas of the artspace.
Utilising her signature style of saturated, deep greens, the artist has compressed our ordinary life into twenty two symbolic audio-visual ‘crystal balls’ revealing anything from daily passions to abstract gestures. Gustowska’s work, which is celebrated internationally for its pioneering use of video, could be summed up in a word ‘ona’ – Polish for ‘her’ – an evolving story of the contemporary woman and the male gaze. This accounts for its enduring appeal.
Following her short but inspiring artist’s residency in Perth during January 2009 Gustowska said: ”I believe that my work deals with universal subjects such as life and death and the green colour, for me, equals nature and energy. Some of the twenty two micro videos which comprise my new Horsecross commission have more sensuality and symbolism in them, while others are observations, often in slow-motion. All reveal individual stories complete with unique soundscapes. A Scottish bagpipe player acts as the narrator in my life story”.
The exhibition is complimented by an exclusive, one weekend-only screening of four critically acclaimed video works by Gustowska. The selected works could be seen in a specially converted, state-of-the-art cinema adjacent to the Threshold artspace.
Life Is A Story. The Scottish Episode, 2009 has been acquired for the Horsecross collection of contemporary art at Threshold artspace.
The exhibition is accompanied by a Issue 9 | Mar 09 of READ MORE – Horsecross Journal for Critical Writing (ISSN 1755-0866) featuring a newly commissioned essay by Urszula Sniegowska who is exploring Gustowska new commission in relation to the artist’s oeuvre to date.
Life Is A Story. The Scottish Episode exhibition is curated by Iliyana Nedkova and Urszula Sniegowska as part of Horsecross’ Scottish Tides-Polish Spring: a three month celebration of Scotland’s vibrant cultural connections with Poland.
Produced by the artist and Horsecross for Threshold artspace in partnership with 55degrees, Glasgow and the Centre for Contemporary Art Ujazdowski Castle, Warsaw.
Supported by Scottish Arts Council New Work Fund, the Scottish Executive’s Homecoming Scotland 2009 and Adam Mickiewicz Institute’s Polska! Year.