stalemate is a mixed media installation produced for the exhibition THIS MESSAGE COULD BE FOR YOU curated by Illona Stutz (2023, Milieu, Bern). Together with: Joerg Hurschler and gousgous
stalemate, 2023, installation views.
spinster’s bishop, aluminum distaff and spindle, 98 x ⌀ 10 cm, natural wool, spun thread, velvet ribbon
cackles and debacles, olfactory component in liquid form placed on wool and spun thread, 20ml
gotcha, casted fingers, series of 10, approx. 5 x 8 cm
hard-boiled hunt, found egg-shaped stone, sketch, 8 x 5 cm
still lush and plush, velvet pillow nailed on the entrance step, 88 x 45 cm
straying, greedy, curious, needy / slapstick hex, velvet and aluminum, 30 x 10 cm
black as coal, pig and hole, polymer clay, 8 x 9 cm
they say they come in threes, silver necklace, crocheted thread, 3 natural pearls
Exhibition text by Ilona Stutz:
machs na
is written on a pillar of the Bern Cathedral directly opposite Milieu. It could be translated as “do the same”.
Perhaps the cathedral itself has taken the saying a bit too firmly to heart.
Built of sandstone, the Gothic church is in a constant process of restoration.
The desired preservation of its original form has become part of the cathedral:
Even on the little sugar bags for coffee, it is depicted in a wrapped state.
machs na
It is not only the fabric of the building that is eroding, but also its interior: The hair color of the sparse visitors is rather on the white side of gray. The old formula seems to no longer fill the premises.
machs na
More and more people are turning to mystical healing practices to find individual answers in an uncertain and chaotic world.
machs na
Today’s approaches to spirituality and disembodied worlds find their young communities on social media platforms and involve the sharing of short video formats that quickly mutate among hundreds of thousands of followers.
machs na
Algorithms serve us with a mysterious mix of content we already like, content we’re likely to like and content that surprises us.
machs na
Not only the content itself, but also its decentralized creation and dissemination takes place in demarcation from the one narrative of the established churches, which is often perceived as paternalistic. Instead, the focus lies on the power of the individual. By means of spiritual rituals from various times, cultures and esoteric practices, the individual gains strength drawing from herself.
machs na
The trend toward secularization is prompting more and more religious leaders to target Millennials on their own turf.
“I use Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, TikTok, Stories, all kinds of things to go where the people are, and that’s where a lot of young people are,” says American pastor James Martin.
machs na
Inspired by traditional witchcraft, the alternative wellness movement #WitchTok has quickly become one of the most popular self-care trends online.
machs na
Followers encourage each other by exchanging spells.
machs na
Casting a spell is like saying a prayer.
machs na
Praying means sending words of manifestation to the universe.
machs an
A mantra that you can use to manifest house, job and boyfriend.
machs na
machs na
machs na
If you feel like this content isn’t for you please skip and remember to take what resonates.