Relay
Margret Wibmer
2020
Artist Statement
Margret Wibmer’s video Relay is an investigation into the possibilities of re-activating the physical and emotional experience of a performance through digital media. Wibmer analyses the relationship between body, object and (digital) space through individual performances in front of a camera. Eleven participants, all close friends of the artist, interpret a handmade textile object that was created by Wibmer for the purpose of the intervention. The ever-changing shapes of body and textile are both sculptural and dramatic, revealing intrinsic processes through movement, material, media and sound. The personalities and characters of the participants unfold in performance and improvisation. Balancing on the boundaries between tangible materiality and digital (im)materiality, individual states of the soul may surface, but also a deep awareness, connecting us with others and with the world. Wibmer sees the performers as representatives of something universally human, which shapes the broader context of this work.
Collaborative research with Japanese artists and curators, exhibiting and performing in Japan on several occasions, had a big influence on my work. It helped me to further develop the ritual elements in my performances. It led me to explore new ideas on space and time inspired by the concept of ‘ma’. The writings of Japanese philosopher Nishida, particularly his analysis of what he calls ‘acting intuition’ were essential in developing Relay. Using digital technology and performance as tools, I try to show 'something' that goes beyond the body as an object, beyond the ‘self’ and beyond the image as well.
Artist Bio
Margret Wibmer (*1959) is an Austrian artist based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Using various media such as performance, video, photography and textiles, her works are a reflection on our human condition, on concepts such as life and death, and on different experiences of time and space. Her works are in private and public collections such as Artothek des Bundes, Belvedere 21 in Vienna and have been exhibited and performed among others at Palais de Tokyo in Paris, RMIT Design Hub in Melbourne, Oude Kerk in Amsterdam, Ishikawa Nishida Kitaro Museum of Philosophy, Japan and KAI 10 - Arthena Foundation, Düsseldorf.