Foundation Prada's wonderful space, located in via Fogazzaro, is holding the first Italian show of the German artist (Meppen 1959). The works presented - from installations to video, from sculptures to the external events - were conceived for this occasion. [Fig. 1]

One of Slominski's peculiarities is the unheimliche underlying the use of familiar objects to the purpose of threat and menace: by this way, the traps at the Foundation were conceived [Fig. 2]. However, some of them lose their ambiguous disposition, making visible the intrinsic danger they represent not only to the catched animal, but also to the man (or visitor) who would unfortunately trigger the mechanism. This is mostly true for Falle für Kampfhunde (2001-2002) - made of steel and iron, and provided with worrying acuminated bars - and for Vogelfanganlage (1998-2002), complex system of traps and ropes literally "mining" the exhibition area, forcing the visitor to perpetually control his steps.

If in these cases Slominski requires visitor's participation in terms of circumspection, in other cases he demands a direct intervention: Please call me (2003) consists of a mobile number written on a wall, and who accepts the invitation will set off an immediate feedback. Much more engaging is Sein Leben wegwerfen (2003): a video documents the events happened on April, 12, 2003 in Milan, when Slominski invited some passers-by on Naviglio Grande to throw their own keys in the canal. As stated in the title, To throw his own life demands participation and above all trust in the interaction with the artist: only later on, in fact, a scuba diver recovers the keys. [Fig. 3]

Finally, a certain sense of boredom may be deriving from Slominski's obsessions. But we must remember that the German artist is only fourty-four years old, thus time and creativity to free himself from some labels are not expired at all. . [Fig. 4]

Exhibition

Andreas Slominski
April, 10 - June, 13 - 2003
Prada Foundation - Milan (Italy)
http://www.fondazioneprada.org

Links

http://www.raeumen.org/slominski.html (german)
http://www.dialnsa.edu/iat97/Sculpture/slominski.html (english)
http://www.artcontent.de/skulptur/97/slomin/ (german and english)