State of Mind - art exhibition

State of Mind provides an exclusive view of a select group in St Petersburg.  The stories reveal both general and private aspects of everyday life, a fringe of the dominant social custom. The work introduces a discussion of intercultural perspectives to identity politics. The stories are selected from documentary material collected in great trust between the artists and the interviewees in fieldwork.

State of Mind opens doors towards empowering readings and invites a dialogue on identity politics. It brings forward embedded evidence of stamina and activism, revealing stories of contemporary city life for individuals identifying as lesbians or work with LGBT related issues in Russia.

State of Mind explores the space between ethics and legislation in an area where cultures and ethnicities meet and possibly also clash. It discusses wide topics such as shortcomings vs. possibilities, belonging vs. alienation, appointed- vs. selected identity.

The participants talk generously about LGBT politics and issues, East-West, private situations and confrontations, as well as the view of the future.  Leadership, democracy and women’s rights are central matters that more than 40 men and women talk about. They span in age from 17-67 and include students, journalists, workers, poets, artists, rock stars, pole dancers, lawyers, academics, business owners, etcetera. It is an expanding network, evolving parallel to the work State of Mind, encouraging discussions of law, identity, nationality, ethnicity and the essence of belonging together.

Galleri K1:  Flat screens portray people telling their individual stories. They are set up tosimulate a group photograph towards the backdrop. Installed at eye level, and hangsfrom ceiling. The audio from each monitor is accessed by headphones. Theprojection, backdrop, presents a view of the River Neva with the city emblem, the Palace Bridge, as a key image.There is an ambient soundtrack is monotone andrepetitive clinging on to the machinery of the Soviet times. It is constructed by components of enhanced documentary sound from the riverbanks of Neva.

Photos in K1:  Portraying nine constellations of friends and lovers in urban settings in St Petersburg.

Presentation by the artists: Friday 1/8 at 14.00-14.45, Studio 3, level 3