TENTative

The title of my work is a play on words. The word "tentative" understood as uncertain, preliminary, a trial, or orientation includes the word 'tent'. The tent is a temporary shelter, which here becomes a space for discussion about: physical or mental travel, time travel, nomadism, non-place, liquidity, for example, identity, temporary cooperation, agreements-misunderstandings.

The work of 'Tentative' refers to the concept of a non-place by Max Auge. Non-places for Auge are railway stations, airports, big hotels, shopping malls, places that look similar in different corners of the world. In non-places, people are everywhere and nowhere at the same time. My work also refers to the issue of migration, and is a kind of place in a non-place. The tent is a place, where refreshments are waiting for travellers and passers-by, They can also find a space for conversation or meditation there.

photo: Julia Kosmynka

The installation entitled TENTative was presented during the event and exhibition "Łącze" (English: "Connection" or "Link") created by women artists from the Frakcja group at the Łódź Fabryczna railway station. The title of the exhibition refers to both physical and virtual connections as well as interpersonal ties. The event lasted for two days, during which we changed the main hall of the new railway station into a space for art where we presented installations and performances.

Łódź Fabryczna is a new station, whose modern appearance and large scale of this investment are the exact opposite of the post-industrial, often deserted spaces in the city of Łódź. The Łódź Fabryczna railway station gives the impression of being relocated here from a completely different world. Fascinated by the absurdity and surreality of this situation, we decided to enter into dialogue with the architecture and atmosphere of the railway station.