Initial idea

I have started thinking about two major theme as an initial idea of the project. First theme was intimacy and spontaneity which I have found in the work of Juan Miro and Alexander Calder as best examples. Miro engagement with color seemed to represent unconscious creativity. His broad planes and gigantic gestures embraced the viewer suggesting a free flowing spontaneity. Calder's subtle balance of forms and colors suggest animated version of paintings by friends such as Miro.

Second theme was unconscious mind. Mark Rothko paintings and James Turrell installations were best examples to represent mystery of unconscious mind and a meditative state. James Turrell mentioned in one of his interviews that he was influenced by Rothko’s paintings. "I dematerialize the physical walls and materialize things that we tend to think of as being intangible. I want to give primacy to things that tend not to be consciously seen.” He said.



Current related exhibitions

In Yellow, Installation by Anish Kapoor, we find our selves struggling to rationalize the incongruity between what we know to be concave and what we perceive as convex. In the monochrome state, color becomes a means of inducing reverie.

Miroslaw Balka in this installation called ‘How it is’ suggests approaching the unknown through entering total darkness. The container focuses you inwards, both physically and psychologically, as you enter into the darkness you come to the point that ask yourself ’ how far can I go?’ you can touch disappearing. When I was walking inside I felt less weight and couldn't realize where I am putting my feet.

My own practice

In attempt to analyzing two theme I've started to find common features between them. I’ve looked for a simple and intimate object that carries the notion of unconscious mind as well. Spinning top was what I’ve found from brick lane market. It is a familiar readymade object that is well known for everyone from childhood and at the same time watching it spinning can gives one a meditative state. I am interested in blurred boundaries between the object and the space around it which is a result of spinning. In fact, we are quite familiar with spinning from childhood, plenty of our plays engage us with spinning. In another word everything is spinning around us. In micro level electron and proton and in macro level the galaxy, in our body blood circulation.

Photographed by Mina salimi

Sufi Dance

Also I've found Sufi spinning as a reference in my own culture to what I am looking for. Sufi spinning is a physically active meditation which originated among Sufis. It is a customary dance performed within worship ceremony. This is sought through abandoning personal desires, by listening to the music, focusing on God, and spinning one's body in repetitive circles, which has been seen as a symbolic imitation of planets in the Solar System orbiting the sun.

Capoeira

Capoeira or dance of war is an Afro –Brazilian art form that combines elements of martial arts, music, and dance. Participants form a roda , or circle, and take turns either playing musical instruments (such as the Berimbau), singing, or ritually sparring in pairs in the center of the circle. The sparring is marked by fluid acrobatic play, feints, and extensive use of sweeps, kicks, and headbutts.

To have a better understanding of Capoeria I attend one of the sessions in London. My experience in Capoeira remind me primitive and ritual dances in Africa. Unlike conventional martial arts that participants have poker faces, in Copeira participants are smiling while doing the movements. There were a kind of meditative state as a result of spinning along with music.

Marcel Duchamp's readymade

As a historical research in art Bicycle Wheel could be one of the first examples. Bicycle Wheel is a readymade by Marcel Duchamp which made in 1913. “To see that wheel turning was very soothing, very comforting, a sort of opening of the avenues to other things than the material life of everyday. I enjoyed looking at it just as I enjoyed looking at the flames dancing in fire place.” He said. Bicycle wheel incorporate the imagery of fourth dimension.

Duchamp’s anemic cinema, a seven minute film, made in collaboration with Man Ray shows ten painted optical disks and nine rotating disks. These kinetic sequences serve as metaphors for the multiple viewpoints needed to achieve forth - dimensional vision. On another level, the overall scheme of the film represents the fundamental occult dialectic: materialization and dematerialization.

Damien Hirst's spin paintings

These paintings created by centrifugal force, when Hirst places his canvases on a spinner, and pours the paint as they spin.

Beautiful revolving sphincter, oops brown painting by Damien Hirst (2003)

My own practice

This idea of installation suggests blurred boundaries and ambiguity between the object and the viewer. As a viewer one can’t realize where does the work exactly finish and how far can you go to each direction.

Render by Mina Salimi