opposite: That Side Where Real Is, Uliana Apatina, nine interconnected site-specific installations in the crypt of St.Mark’s Church Kennington, London, UK, 2013, black elastic shock cords, monofilament, gravel, television sets, video, dry leaves, blue and red photographic gel, black matt and red gloss paint. Copyright the artist.
certain processes going on, but I deliberately keep all the options open and need to surprise myself constantly. I do know what I want though. It’s a kind of a challenge pursuing a process-based practice, but it gives me the adrenaline I desire. With Sacred Danger I was flabbergasted by its reaction to atmospheric conditions. Observing the structure, frosted with the morning fog, then gradually acquiring a crystal clear transparency throughout the day and turning flaming red at the sunset made me really happy. The video installation in Part II followed a similar nonlinear pathway. EG: Can you describe your intention for Sacred Danger? UA: Sacred Danger is a delusional corridor with no exit, but where the transparency of the material shows glimpses of potential freedom at every turn. The reflections cause confusion as your body multiplies and so does the landscape beyond. Meanwhile, inside, the steel rods, which support the structure, also multiply and seem to be trying to drill through your head as you snake your way through the Perspex labyrinth.
I wanted a sensation of entrapment at the end of an unpleasant journey – where you see a beautiful seaside as an escape, but can’t reach it because the exit, although transparent, is blocked. So, you can feel close to freedom but never get to it, and then you have to repeat this terrifying journey again to get to the entrance, where you can definitely and finally escape—CCQ
You can read more about Sacred Danger and other projects at uliana-apatina.blogspot.co.uk uliana-apatina.com The 2016 recipient of the Kim Fielding Award will be announced shortly. kimfielding.org We wrote about Kim Fielding in CCQ Issue 3. Read it for free at issuu.com/ccqmag/docs/ccq3
previous spread: White Light, Uliana Apatina (non-masterplanned film production for Art Licks Weekend 2015, in conversation with white cube gallery space and previous work, The cReature Film, 2012) photos: Thomas Erskine above, current page: Talk To Me, Uliana Apatina, five room immersive environment, St Clements, abandoned mental hospital, London, UK, 2013. Materials: insulation foil, blue fluorescent lights. Copyright the artist. below: Sacred Danger, Uliana Apatina, part 1 of a 2 part project for the Kim Fielding Award for experimental arts, 2015, site-specific immersive installation reinventing a sacred space, plexiglass, zinc plated steel, cellular rubber, 2.3 x 3 x 9.5 m, Coed Hills, South Glamorgan, Wales (From left: transparent at the day time; frosted in the morning fog; flaming red at the sunset.) Copyright the artist.