Zayed University (ZU) hosts the ‘Fluid Resistance’ solo exhibition by Abu Dhabi Artist and Art Educator Prof. Kasia Dzikowska, at the ZU Campus in Abu Dhabi at the Promenade Gallery from 17th to 29th January. The exhibition will be accompanied by an online opening and shall be accessible for the public to attend virtually. This event aims to engage with Abu Dhabi residents in appreciation of a moment in time.
‘Fluid Resistance’ which was curated by Sabrina DeTurk, Associate Professor in the College of Arts and Creative Enterprises at Zayed University, is an exploration of actions in life, the sacrifices made for one’s family and work towards the greater good of society. This body of work aims to give recognition to all the hours dedicated to necessary – but sometimes unappreciated – tasks. “The inspiration comes from movement in water, an action that requires an increased amount of energy and is strenuous to perform,”said Prof. Dzikowska. “That feeling corresponds to what happens when we do things that we don’t want to do: we push ourselves, force ourselves to do it, but it’s not an easy task to undertake,”
She further adds, “With the start of 2021, the need for reflection and connection is on many people’s minds. Art is one of the many anchors that can facilitate that necessity, bringing the community together towards a common understanding through an art exhibition paying homage to the necessary, but unappreciated tasks, in life.”
For her part, Dr. Sabrina DeTurk, said: “What makes Fluid Resistance such a compelling work is that many artists, particularly feminist art pioneers such as Marina Abramovic, Ann Hamilton and Janine Antoni, have created performance pieces that reflect on the repetitive and often mind-numbing nature of so much of (women’s) work.”“Kasia’s piece does that, but goes further, by challenging the negative reactions we might initially bring to a reflection on repetitive, seemingly unimportant tasks and asking the viewer to instead think about why we do these things – as acts of care. In a moment where we, and our world, need care in myriad ways, this seems a crucial message for art to carry.”
The work is deliberately created in a time consuming way, in order to reflect the hours sacrificed for the greater good. The image, based on photographs of movement in water, is digitally redrawn as a vector graphic, with each shape individually replicated in five different layers. Later, the work is cut out by a Kern laser machine and assembled to create the finished, relief like image.
