‘How it is‘ by Miroslaw Balka

Primary research

To have a sense about others experience of metaphysical notion I’ve visited Miroslaw Balka’s ‘How it is‘ installation, which is a current exhibition in Turbine hall of Tate Modern. I asked number of visitors a question:


'How do you describe your feeling and experience of the installation by a single word?'

-Science fiction
-exciting
-illusion
-astronaut
-sexy
-unknown
-breath taking
-alert
-memory haunting
-intriguing
-search
-rectangular
-emotional
-disconcerting
-ambivalent
-comforting
-empty
-emptiness
-black
-uncomfortable
-unnerving
-intimidating
-cozy
-uneasy
-isolation
-apprehension followed by belief
-scared
-scary but exciting
-strange
-afraid
-frightening
-depriving in a good way
-amazing and unbelievable
-curious
-discombobulated
-peaceful cave

The installation didn’t seem as dark as I’ve visited two months ago. When I asked about it from one of the staff, they said more light has been turned on outside of the installation so that people don’t fall over when while stepping into the installation. and I only wondered when British institutions want to stop playing safe! Museum insurance shit ruins art.