UTUGAMI
Текст
The Utugami project was born suddenly, online in the Zoom. We experimented with fabric and found out that it is not easy to shape, unlike paper origami. So we fixated the fold lines with the help of an iron. So suddenly the new technique appeared. This name is the play on words "origami" and "utug" ("iron" in russian).
Abstraction and symbol, gesture and experiment, simplicity and minimalism, light and shadow, rhythm of laid folds, endless possibilities of transformation are the principles that can describe Utugami.
In June 2021 on the invitation of Alena Reicher, curator of the "Backstage" exhibition, a textile site specific object was created - the facade of the Contemporary Art Center "Fligel" in Vladimir, which is thematically connected to the participation in the main exhibition. This word - both the name of the technique and the project - was invented by analogy with the word "origami". From the joke was born an interesting project, as well as two kinds of techniques - hot and cold ironing, respectively, with ironing and without (the facade was decided not to iron). It was a real happy journey and adventure for the participants. Also the experience of working on this project showed that it is possible to work together from a distance, so, for example, Nadya Karpinskaya, being in Switzerland, watched from a height through the computer standing on the mezzanine the installation of the eight-meter facade, and she just saw the whole picture.
Abstraction and symbol, gesture and experiment, simplicity and minimalism, light and shadow, rhythm of laid folds, endless possibilities of transformation are the principles that can describe Utugami.
In June 2021 on the invitation of Alena Reicher, curator of the "Backstage" exhibition, a textile site specific object was created - the facade of the Contemporary Art Center "Fligel" in Vladimir, which is thematically connected to the participation in the main exhibition. This word - both the name of the technique and the project - was invented by analogy with the word "origami". From the joke was born an interesting project, as well as two kinds of techniques - hot and cold ironing, respectively, with ironing and without (the facade was decided not to iron). It was a real happy journey and adventure for the participants. Also the experience of working on this project showed that it is possible to work together from a distance, so, for example, Nadya Karpinskaya, being in Switzerland, watched from a height through the computer standing on the mezzanine the installation of the eight-meter facade, and she just saw the whole picture.
Hot Utugami
Cold UTUGAMI
Site-specific object made in "cold UTUGAMI" technique.
Made for the Center of contemporary art "Fligel" in Vladmir, Russia.
Based on a sketch by Alexandra Ostrovskaya.
Curated by Alyona Raikher.
Made for the Center of contemporary art "Fligel" in Vladmir, Russia.
Based on a sketch by Alexandra Ostrovskaya.
Curated by Alyona Raikher.
Process
UTUGAMI on the city streets
The project by Anna Plotnikova "ZaMETKI UTUGAMI" is virtual and site-specific. Anna realized that she needed natural light for photos of her UTUGAMI. That's how textile objects occured on the city streets, where they began to live their own lives. Each video has its own story: some UTUGAMI dances with the fan, some lie still and wait for the photo session to end. And some were disappeared in garbage bags during the filming.
Video ZaMETKI UTUGAMI by Anna Plotnikova
Making art at a distance
Nadia Karpinskaya lives in Switzerland and she is separated from the rest of the Lab. She wanted to participate in the project and sent the scheme of her UTUGAMI online. We purchased necessary fabric and recreated it in Russia exclusevely for the exhibition.
