fig.: 'Anti Dog' by Alicia Framis, 2002 (video still); courtesy Rabo Art Collection. Photo provided on occasion of the exhibition 'Alicia Framis. Framis in Progress', 14 December 2013 until 23 February 2014 at Galerie Taxispalais in Innsbruck, Austria; posted on 4 December 2013.

Alicia Framis' outfits for activists

...will be presented from 14 December 2013 until 23 February 2014 at the retrospective 'Framis in Progress' at Galerie Taxispalais in Innsbruck, Austria. One of the center parts of the Spanish, in Amsterdam living artist's work is the social performance 'Anti Dog' with costumes designed by Alicia Framis from protective (fireproof, etc) material. The fashion pieces range from futuristic outdoor dresses over gowns to banner-like clothing items with writings that reference the flak-quality of the outfits. Alicia Framis addresses with her social fashion performances under the title 'Anti Dog' themes like gender-based violence, aggression of men, safety of immigrants and women with dark skin such as seen at the performance video 'Arena' where silence and passivity are dramaturgical important. Silence, passivity appear at both role groups (performing women and arena visitors) and can be interpreted as inactivity of women and/or the ignorance of society towards the own role in this performance. On her website, Alicia Framis publishes thoughts about safety and protection, and reflects upon Big-Brother strategies of governments: "Protection doesn’t come from a monitor; the monitor is just a witness of our fear. Safety comes from the feeling you are the owner of you own body and mind.” Alicia Framis (source, cited on 4 Dec 2013).

The retrospective 'Framis in Progress' at the Galerie Taxispalais introduces into Alicia Framis' explorations of urban society's social and political situations. Taxispalais announces that there will be three interactive platforms where exhibition visitors can slip into the role of activists: the 'Fitting Room for Demonstrations' where outfits of the artist's performances such as Anti Dog can be tried on, the 'Studio of Social Architecture' and the 'Wishing Walls' for posting opinions and visionary ideas for the future.

"...in Innsbruck, ... visitors can write their wishes on scraps of paper using invisible ink, and then leave these in numerous, pre-formed holes in the wall." unveils Galerie Taxispalais the privacy protecting feature (invisible ink) of Alicia Framis' 'Wishing Wall' installation.

fig.: 'Wishing Wall' by Alicia Framis, 1998-2001. Photo provided on occasion of the exhibition 'Alicia Framis. Framis in Progress', 14 December 2013 until 23 February 2014 at Galerie Taxispalais in Innsbruck, Austria; posted on 4 December 2013.




more culture>