:: Zorica Čolić

LOOSE PUMP FLAW PUFF, 2010

Gimnazija u Čačku bila mi je inspirativna za instalaciju rada jer kao škola ona spada u sistem tradicionalnih ustanova koja upravo i kao obrazovna institucija ima bitan uticaj na razvoj mladih, ako ne u najznačajnijem onda svakako u vrlo delikatnom dobu odrastanja i formiranja ličnosti. Sala za fizičko, kao i sam predmet “fizičko vaspitanje” ima značajnu ulogu u razvoju (samo)discipline, kontrole, svesti o svom telu. Fizički izgled bitniji je nego ikada- “ostati mlad i lep” globalni je imperativ. Nasuprot brojnim zahtevima i pritiscima kojima su mladi izloženi, odabrala sam da u sali za fizičko izložim neonske reči koje učenicima ne treba da daju instrukcije ili savete već da ih navode na razmišljanje i preispitivanje. Reči imaju više značenja i sam niz koji zajedno čine može se čitati na razne načine. Međutim, rad nije isključivo namenjen određenom uzrastu niti se odnosi samo na specifičnost Gimnazije kao ustanove. Svi mi živimo pod pritiscima da budemo savršeni, nepogrešivi, fizički “zategnuti i lepi”; kao da nam je određeno koji delovi tela treba da budu tanki, koji “napumpani”, svi mi manje ili više težimo tome jer želimo da budemo prihvaćeni i voljeni. Ovaj rad zapravo ima za cilj da postavi drugačije vrednosti, odnosno one potpuno prirodne i humane, a to su nenamerne greške, nedostatke i mane koje nas čine posebnim, i podsećaju nas da svaki “pritisak” mora da ima i svoj “ventil” za opuštanje.

Niz reči u Gimnaziji počinje engleskom rečju LOOSE koja znači: opustiti, odrešiti, osloboditi; kao pridev to znači biti opušten, neučvršćen, odrešen, labav, elastičan, slobodan. Zatim sledi reč PUMP koja znači pumpati, gurati, izvlačiti, naduvavati, a neformalno ispitivati, “izvlačiti informacije” od nekoga. FLAW je nedostatak ili slabost u nečijem karakteru, često urođena mana; nenamerna, slučajna greška; napuklina, mrlja ili drugačija nesavršenost koja čini suštinu predmeta, kvar. PUFF – uz vežbanje ide puff, odnosno zadišemo se; puff je dašak vetra, huk, kratak, ekplozivan izdah a takođe znači i promocija, ili reklama, naročito ona koja preterano hvali.

Za tumačenje rada i opšti doživljaj značajno je i to da su reči “ispisane” u tehnici neona, u stilu poruka i jezika masovnih medija. Ali nasuprot takvom jeziku, ove reči su dvosmislene, duhovite, možda i sarkastične, a poenta nije da se dâ rigidan pogled na svet već da se u institucionalnoj atmosferi infiltriraju alternativna razmišljanja.

www.zoricacolic.blogspot.com

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LOOSE PUMP FLAW PUFF, 2010

The Čačak Gymnasium was an inspiration for this installation because as a school it belongs to a system of traditional institutions which, as educational institutions, are important for the development of young people during the sensitive period of their adolescence and growing up. Its gym, and the subject ‘gym class’, has an important role in development of (self)discipline, control and sense of body. Physical appearance seems to be more important than ever before – ‘to remain young and beautiful’ is a global imperative. In contrast to these demands and pressures to adolescents, I decided to exhibit a neon lettering of concepts that do not prescribe or advise but provoke thinking and questioning. These words have complex meanings and can be interpreted differently as a sequence. The work however is not aimed at a particular age group or relates to the specificity of Gymnasium as an institution. We are all living under pressure to be perfect, physically ‘tight and beautiful’; it’s seemingly prescribed which parts of our bodies need to be slim and which ‘pumped’, all of us more or less aiming for that standard as we desire to be loved and accepted. This work therefore aims to position different values, natural and human, including accidental flaws, defects, imperfections that make us unique and remind us that every ‘pressure’ needs to have a ‘vent’ for its release.

The word sequence begins with the English word LOOSE meaning: relax, unhook, release; as an adjective it means to be relaxed, not restrained, unfastened, not confined, elastic, free. Next is the word PUMP that means to force out, dilate, blow up, push out, inflate and colloquialy to question or draw information out of someone. FLAW is an imperfection or weakness in someone’s character, congenital deviation, accidental anomaly, irregularity, blemish, stain, or deviancy in the core of an object, an error. PUFF goes with exercise (we say puff when we’re out of breath), puff is also a waft or draft, huff, wheeze, whiff, and also a promotion or praise.

Using neon tubes i.e. the language of mass media was important for reading and interpreting of the work. Yet in contrast to this language, the words are layered, humourous, sarcastic, offering alternative thought within an institutional space.

www.zoricacolic.blogspot.com