Hide and seek

Turning to the topic of fear and anxiety, I focus on the feeling that arises when we experience fear, in moments of anxiety and worry. This state is like being in a narrow and long corridor, from which there is no visible exit. Reflecting this «corridor» state, I create a path along which you can walk and find yourself inside the «anxious corridor». This corridor has a floor - a carpet path leading in an indirect, winding path, along the edges of which there is a small side made of wooden plinth. But the walls of this corridor are not monolithic blocks that you can hide behind - these walls are created from many thin branches sticking out in different directions. The branches interfere with the passage, «clinging» to the person walking along the corridor, enveloping him on the sides, as if grabbing hold of him. Through the gaps between the branches, light appears, so you can see the surroundings of this corridor, but it is impossible to fully embrace the environment around. Spectators passing by and other works turn into a stream of light and dark spots, indistinguishable rustles. Inside the walls, among the branches, small tree mushrooms sprout - a sign of the decay of the forest, its imminent death. There are also fragments of other potentially forest creatures: furry tails that resemble fur coats in the hallway, empty feeders that look like shelves, and other objects. Scattered throughout the corridor, these details are important elements of the feeling of anxiety: at this moment, the brain tries to recognize the source of fear, and at the same time find a solution to the problem. Clinging to all sorts of «saving branches», we can take wishful thinking, and an impulsive decision is the ideal solution to the problem. An important part of the installation is sound: the sounds of rustling, footsteps, knocking - something that can cause anxiety both in the forest on the path and at home. These sounds are dispersed pointwise throughout the space of the corridor. They are quiet, emitted by small speakers with a certain periodicity, not constantly. The sound is turned on alternately in different parts of the space, regardless of the viewer’s movement.