ARTIST STATEMENT

M A T R I C A    A K O    R I N G   /  P I A T R I K     v s.   V A L I S K A            

               Spoločný projekt je priesečníkom našich individuálnych výtvarných programov, ktorým sme sa začali venovať počas doktorandského štúdia na Akadémií umení v Banskej Bystrici. Téma: Plocha pre intermediálnu projekciu (S. Piatrik) a prienik s témou Stopy-vrstvy-sedimenty (P.Valiska-Timečko) zabezpečil spoluprácu pre nasledujúce obdobie (2013-17). Spoločný performatívny projekt s prvkami grafiky sa venuje predovšetkým akčným formám umenia. Vedome vychádzame z akčných prejavov umenia 60. a 70. rokov s dôrazom na experiment, hravosť a teatrálnosť. Projekt pod názvom Matrica ako ring spočíva v zápasení v ringu /intermediálnej ploche/, kde sme obaja osvetlení silnými halogénovými svetlami tak, aby naše tiene smerovali do ringu. Obaja útočíme na tieň svojho protivníka motorovými pílami a vytvárame matricu pre grafickú tlač. Následne odtláčame veľkoformátové grafiky priamo pred očami diváka. Našou spoločnou ambíciou je prekročiť hranice média grafiky (grafický list – telo performera – videozáznam) a hľadať a prepájať nové výrazové postupy. Predmetom nášho záujmu je  v neposlednom rade úsilie oživiť „mŕtvu“ grafiku ako takú. Ohniskom celého projektu je performatívne vystúpenie a presah nie len v rámci médií (performancia, video a grafika), ale aj druhu umenia (výtvarný prejav expanduje smerom do teatrálneho). Dalo by sa povedať, že uspokojenie nachádzame vo vyhrotenom a dramatizujúcom fyzickom kontakte, a to nie len so samotnou plochou ringu (grafickou matricou), ale aj so spolutvorcom či „spolupáchateľom“ a zároveň bojovníkom stojacim na druhej strane ringu. Boj medzi nami nevnímame ako tradičný súboj, ide skôr o jeho rafinovanejšiu podobu, ktorá spočíva v boji o gestickú stopu bizarného výtvarného nástroja v kompozícii, o „svoje miesto v intermediálnej ploche grafickej matrice – ringu“. V prvotnej významovej rovine samotný súboj odkazuje metaforou na permanentnú rivalitu medzi nami (umelcami) o získanie zaslúženého miesta či postavenia v uzavretom umeleckom svete. Performance môže do istej miery pôsobiť ako SHOW. Predstavenie sa môže javiť divácky atraktívne i z dôvodu súperenia v ringu a využitia bizarných výtvarných nástrojov (motor. píly). Je potrebné upozorniť, že nemáme na mysli show ako žáner komerčných aktivít masovej zábavy, ale ako pojem, či skôr ako novú výrazovú kategóriu vizuálneho umenia. Nepodriaďujeme svoj program komerčnému účelu (zisk). Predstavenie má  výlučne za cieľ prezentovať našu autorskú výpoveď. Naším zámerom je zmeniť galériu na ring a zároveň búrať staré a vytvárať niečo nové. Každé vystúpenie je unikátne a vďaka svojej jedinečnosti (génius loci) nás núti k ďalším experimentom a k hľadaniu nových výrazových možností. Na jednotlivých vystúpeniach (performance) sa snažíme obmieňať povrch ringu (linoleum, sololit, plátno a pod.), ale i oblečenie v ktorom vystupujeme.

              V roku 2013 sme spoločne začali rozvíjať tento koncept v rámci 24 hodinového grafického workshopu na Akadémii umení v Banskej Bystrici. V tom istom roku sme sa predstavili vo Východoslovenskej galérii v Košiciach (Biela noc 2013). V roku 2015 sme prekročili hranice a svoj súboj sme prezentovali vo FAT Relic gallery v Londýne a zároveň sme interdisciplinárne preklenuli pomyselné hranice grafiky i smerom k medicíne v rámci spolupráce s chirurgom MUDr. Viktorom Bérešom (Brno), ktorý nám po skončení duelu chirurgicky zašil rozrezané plátno a zacelil jednotlivé rany a stopy po motorových pílach. O rok neskôr sme galériu vymenili za divadlo a uskutočnili súboj v divadle Pôtoň – Bátovce. V Nitrianskej galérii – mladých počas Noci múzeí a galérií 2016 sme usporiadali rozsiahlejšiu výstavu, kde sme okrem performance prezentovali aj monumentálne grafiky a video-dokumenty z jednotlivých podujatí. Projekt sme predviedli taktiež počas týždňa súčasného umenia v Hale Merina – Trenčín, kde sme tvar ringu výrazne zmenili na podlhovastý obdĺžnik. Posledný náš duel sa uskutočnil v divadle Badhuistheater v Amsterdame, kde sme participovali počas projektu Slovak art days 2016.             

   

M A T R I X    A S    A   R I N G   /  P I A T R I K     v s.   V A L I S K A

              The proposed joint project is an intersection of our individual Fine Art Programs. We started to dedicated our time to this project already during our postgraduate studies at Academy of Arts in Banska Bystrica. Topic: Surface for intermediary projection (S. Piatrik) and interpenetration within the topic Ceilings-coatings-sediments (P.Valiska-Timečko) ensured us the cooperation for the next years (2013-17). Joint performative project with graphics elements primarily deals with action art forms. Intentionally, we take the source from the action art expression of the 60‘s and 70‘s with the emphasis on experiment, playfulness and theatricality. Matrix as a ring project is based on a fight in a ring /intermediary surface/, where both of us are floodlighted by strong halogen lights in order to face our shadows in the ring.

                Each of us attacks the opponent’s shadow using a chainsaw. By this motion, we create a matrix for graphic print. Subsequently we press out graphics of a greater size in front of the audience. Our common ambition is to exceed the boundaries of graphic art (art print – body of the performer – video recording) and to seek and link new expressional techniques. The subject of our interest is, last but not least, the endeavor to bring back to life the “dead” graphic art as such. Performative performance is the focal point of the whole project. It does not only surpass the media (performance, video and graphic art), but also the type of art (fine art expands into theatrical).

                It could be said that we find satisfaction in the escalated and dramatizing physical contact with the ring surface (graphic matrix), but also with the co-creator, or “accomplice” and combatant at the same time, who is standing on the opposite site of the ring. We do not see the fight between us as a traditional fight but rather as a subtle form of it, which lies in the fight for gestic mark of a bizarre fine art tool in the composition - the fight in order to “secure one’s place on the intermediary surface of graphic matrix, which is the ring”. By means of metaphor, the primary semantic meaning of the fight is to show the permanent rivalry among us (artists) to obtain recognized position or status in the enclosed artistic world.

               The performance may give the impression of a SHOW. It may also be attractive to the audience due to competing in the ring and the use of bizarre fine art tools (chainsaws). Here we see important to stress that we do not refer to a show as a commercial genre of mass entertainment activities, but rather as a term or new expressional category of visual art. We do not conform our program to commercial purpose (profit). The objective of our performance is to present our authorial expression. Our intention is to transform a gallery into a ring and, at the same time, to destroy the old and create something new. Every performance is unrivalled and because of its uniqueness (génius loci), it urges us to perform further experiments and to seek new expressional possibilities. At every performance we try to alter the ring surface (linoleum, hardboard, canvas, etc.), as well as the clothes we wear.

                   In 2013, we started to develop the proposed concept during a 24-hour graphic workshop at Academy of Arts in Banska Bystrica, Slovakia. In the same year we introduced the project at East – Slovakian gallery (Vychodoslovenska galeria) in Kosice, Slovakia (White night/Biela noc 2013). In 2015, we travelled abroad and presented the project at FAT Relic Gallery in London. In the meantime, thanks to the cooperation with Dr. Viktor Beres, a surgeon expert from Brno, we interdisciplinary bridged the imaginary boundaries of graphics towards the medicine. At the end of the duel Dr. Beres stitched the sawed canvas and cured our wounds from the chainsaws. One year later we replaced the gallery with the Poton – Batovce Theater, Slovakia, where we presented our project. During The Night of Museums and Galleries 2016, Slovakia, we organized a broader exhibition at Nitra Gallery where we, besides the performance, also presented impressive graphics and video documents from particular events. We also brought our project to Merina Hall (Hala Merina) in Trencin, Slovakia, during the Week of Contemporary Art. Here we notably changed the shape of a ring to an elongated oblong. Our last duel was held in Badhuistheater Theater in Amsterdam, where we participated within the project of Slovak art days 2016.

BIOGRAPHY

PETER VALISKA - TIMEČKO & STANISLAV PIATRIK

The begennings of cooperation

The project Matrix as a ring 2013 is realized together with Stanislav Piatrik
within the 24 hours workshop in Academy of arts in Banská Bystrica and later
during The White night in Eastern Slovak gallery in Košice. “Matrix as a ring” is a
graphically composed visual art with the features of performance, focused on the
duel respectively fight between P. Valiska-Timečko and S. Piatrik. They meet in the
role of performers with non- traditional “weapons “, chainsaws, which served as
the graphical tools. The aim was to attack the shadow of an opponent so that various
graphical marks were formed in a ring/ intermedia site/. The ring was made of a raised
area at first with the surface of linoleum later with the surface of white hardboard.
The duel had the real features of fight,when they barefoot cut and wounded their
shadows with chainsaws. The action large display matrixes were formed which, in the
end of the match, were printed by graphical / authorial/ technique- “archaeological
frottage” by screen- printing paints. A videodocument is a part of all the action.

„Dvojica slovenských vizuálnych umelcov Stanislav Piatrik (1979) a Peter Valiska Timečko (1985) začala svoju umeleckú spoluprácu počas doktorandského štúdia na Fakulte výtvarných umení Akadémie umení v Banskej Bystrici (od 2013). Oboch autorov spájala myšlienka nielen rozšíriť hranice striktne chápaného grafického média, ale aplikovať tu aj nové ikonografické a realizačné postupy. Tieto ambície ich doviedli k rôznym formám akčnej, interaktívnej a participatívnej tvorby blízkej médiu grafiky, no súčasne výrazne prekračujúcej jej hranice. Od roku 2013 spoločne verejne vystupujú. Prvou takouto performatívnou grafikou bolo ich vystúpenie na pôde Fakulty výtvarných umení v Banskej Bystrici (apríl 2013) a potom vo Východoslovenskej galérii v Košiciach (október 2013), kde autori vytvárali matricu pomocou reálneho súboja motorovými pílami. Na podlahe zápasníckeho ringu vznikala grafická matrica zárezmi do materiálu, z ktorej následne tlačili veľké formáty grafiky. Týmto dielom, ako aj ďalšími, nadväzujú autori na akčné a intermediálne presahy v slovenskej grafike 60. a 70. rokov 20. storočia v novom jazyku a aktuálnych témach.“ (Alena Vrbanová)

"Two Slovak visual artists Stanislav Piatrik (1979) and Peter Valiska- Timecko (1985) had started their artistic cooperation during their postgraduate studies at Faculty of arts, Academy of Arts in Banska Bystrica ( Slovakia, since 2013). Both authors were connected by notion not only widen the borders of strictly understood graphical media, but also apply here new iconographic and realization techniques. These ambitions led them to the various forms of action, interactive and participatory work close to the graphical media, but simultaneously greatly transcending its borders. They have performed together in public since 2013. Such a first performative graphic was their performance on the ground of Faculty of arts in Banska Bystrica (April 2013) and then in Eastern Slovak Gallery in Kosice (October 2013), where the authors were creating the matrix by means of real chainsaw fight. On the flooring of wrestling ring was being created graphic matrix by cutting notches in material, from which they subsequently printed big size graphics. By this work, as well as by subsequent, the authors follow the action and intermediary overlaps in Slovak graphic of 1960´s and 1970´s in new language and actual themes." (Alena Vrbanová)

STANISLAV PIATRIK

Born 1979 in Levice, Slovakia.

Lives and works in Hontianske Trsťany, Slovakia

EDUCATION

2012 – 2015 The Academy of Arts, Faculty of Fine Arts

Banská Bystrica, Slovakia, Doctoral Study Programme in Fine Art

Studio GPS (graphics-space-synergy) doc. Robert Brun, Academic Artist

RESIDENCIES

 2014 Study Programme /Erasmus/

The Hungarian University of Fine Arts, Painting Department

Studio László L. Révész DLA, Budapest, Hungary

INDIVIDUAL EXHIBITIONS:

2013 Job Interview, Gallery FX, Banská Bystrica

2014 The Art of Spirit, The Penance, The Jesuit Chapel of Our Lady of Sorrows,

Piešťany

2015 Matrix as a ring, Fat Relic, London

2016 Description of the Match, The Better World Gallery, Bratislava

2016 Matrix as a ring, Nitra Gallery, Youth Gallery, Nitra

2016 Matrix as ring, Badhuistheater, Netherlands

TEAM EXHIBITIONS:

2008 PiatrikHalászPiatrik, The Better World Gallery, Bratislava

2009 For-mat A1, Jiří Trnka Gallery, Pilsen

2009 Digital media - Videoexperiment, Dom Umenia, Bratislava

2010 Arteskorta: Periférne centrum, The Flower Exhibition, Hontianske Trsťany

2011 Borders in interior (installation), Synagoogue, Nitra

2011 Borders in interior (spatial installation), Youth Forum, Nitra

2011 Na -Ture, Outdoor Gallery, Nitra

2011 Trans-medial Space of Grahics, Nitra Gallery, Nitra

2011 Prayer for a Culture, Arteskorta: Periférne centrum, Staré

2011 The Last Supper, The Better World Gallery, Bratislava

2011 Arteskorta: Periférne centrum, The Map, Hontianske Trsťany

2012 The Penance, Gallery Subteren, Michalovce

2013 re VISION, Stredoslovenská Gallery, Banská Bystrica

2013 4 √ Fx, Gallery FX, Banská Bystrica

2013 Exprimo, Gallery Subteren, Michalovce

2013 Visual Inspiration a Personal Quests, Slovak Institute, Moskva

2013 Riga, Art Space, Latvia

2013 Se_lection in the underground, White Night, Východoslovenská Gallery,

Košice

2014 24-hours Workshop of Graphics, Sito, Gallery Fx, Banská Bystrica

2014 Echo 4, Light Art, Trebišov

2014 Face to Face:Works on Paper from Slovakia FAB Gallery, University of

Alberta, Edmonton, Canada June

2014 Interventions, Koniareň, Trebišov

2014 God, Contemporary International Art Exhibition, Let Art Work Gallery, Pune,

India

2014 PhD Students, Gallery Fx, Banská Bystrica

2015 Fine ArtD.3, Stredoslovenská Gallery, Banská Bystrica

2015 Parkcamp, Koniareň, Trebišov

2015 Film Night at the Castle, The Feast of the Assumption of Mary into Heaven,

Veľký Šariš

2015 Slovak Art Days in London, The Gallery On The Corner, London

2015 Footprints, The Better World Gallery, Bratislava,

2015 Psota na Slovensku, Theatre Pôtoň, Bátovce

2015 Psota na Slovensku, Záhrada - Centrum nezávislej kultúry, Banská Bystrica

2016 The Art of Spirit, Gallery of Spiš Artists, Spišská Nová Ves

JOINT PERFORMENCES /Piatrik vs. Valiska/ :

2013 Matrix as a ring I., The Academy of Arts, Banská Bystrica

2013 Matrix as a ring II., White Night, Východoslovenská Gallery, Košice

2015 Matrix as a ring III., Fat Relic, London

2016 Matrix as a ring IV., Theatre Pôtoň, Bátovce

2016 Matrix as a ring v., Nitra Gallery, Youth Gallery, Nitra

2016 Matrix as a ring VI., Hala Merina, Trenčín

2016 Matrix as a ring VII., Badhuistheater, Netherlands

PETER VALISKA - TIMEČKO

Born. 05/03/1985, Trebišov, SR

Lives and works in Trebišov, Slovakia

EDUCATION

2011 - 2014 Postgraduate studies

Academy of Arts in Banská Bystrica, Faculty of Arts, subject of study: Free Fine Art

Atelier of Free creation/ doc. Igor Benca, akad.mal./

2008 - 2010 Master´s degree study

Academy of Arts in Banská Bystrica, Faculty of Arts, Department of Graphic subject of study: Free fine art. Atelier of Free creation /doc. Igor Benca, akad.mal./

WORK placement:

2013, Academy of Arts in Prague, Atelier intermedia, Jiří Příhoda school II., Prague, Czech republic

RESIDENCIES

2009 Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw

Department of Sculpture, Atelier of prof. Gregorz Kowalski

Solo exhibitions

2016/ Matrix as a ring V., Action printmarking, Youth gallery Nitra, Slovakia

2016/ Matrix as a ring IV.,/performance/, Theater Pôtoň - Bátovce, Slovakia

2014/ SOCIAL TRAPS, Stable / space for current art/, Trebišov, Slovak republic

2013/ ADDICTIONS, Academy of Fine Arts Gallery, Prague, Czech republic

2011/ LECHERS IN TRAPS/ dark side of church, East- Slovakian Gallery, Košice, Slovak republic

2011/ Exhibition LECHE®S, SHIP, Gallery M++, Bratislava, Slovak republic

2010/ (re)START, graduate´s exhibition, Museum of national history and science, Trebišov, Slovak republic

2009/ TRAPS, gallery SUB- TERRAIN, Michalovce, Slovak republic

Collective exhibitions

2016/ SADIA, Slovak art days in Amsterdam, Nederland

2015/ Matrix as a ring III., FAT Relic gallery, London, UK

2014/ FACE TO FACE, FAB gallery, Edmonton, Canada

2014/ FINE ART.D., Central- Slovakian Gallery, Banská Bystrica, Slovak republic

2014/ Exhibition hours WORKSHOP of graphics, Gallery FX, Academy of Arts in Banská Bystrica, Slovak republic

2013/ WHITE NIGHT, Se_lection in underground, East- Slovakian Gallery, Košice, Slovak republic

2013/ INTERVENTIONS II, gallery Stable / space for current art/ Trebišov, Slovak republic

2013/ Visual inspiration & Personal quests, National library of Helsinki, Finland

2013/ IX.Békéscaba, international artists association, Jankay gallery, Bekescaba, Hungary

2013/ Visual Inspiration & Personal quests, National library of Estonia, Talin, Estonia

2013/ Visual Inspiration & Personal quests, RIGA ART SPACE, Latvia

2013/ Visual Inspiration & Personal quests, Slovak visual art 1993/ 2013 a selection, Slovak institute, Moscow, Russia

2013/ MIX BLOOD (A-B-AB-O) Exhibition of postgraduates AKU, East- Slovakian Gallery,Košice, Slovak republic

2013/ EXPRIMO, gallery Sub- terrain, Michalovce, Slovak republic

2013/ RE_VISION, Central- Slovakian Gallery, Banská Bystrica, Slovak republic

2012/ Artwall: LINK/In Transit/ DOX Centre for current art, Project c2c, Prague7, Czech republic

2012/ Assimilation vs. Original, Gallery of Slovak Art Union, Bratislava, Slovak republic

2011/ Trans/medial space of graphic, Nitra Gallery, Nitra, Slovak republic

2011/ Recapitulation IV. Gallery Sub- terrain, Michalovce, Slovak republic

2010/ International exhibition – e322, Orava Gallery Dolný Kubín, Slovak republic

2010/ Colour in the street, Centre Bavaria Bohemia (CeBB), Schonsse, Germany

2010/ 3rd Biennial of painting and sculpture of countries V4, Museum of national history and science, Trebišov, Slovak republic

2010/ COLOUR IN THE STREET, Proluka, Plzeň, Czech republic

2009/ FOR- MAT A1, Gallery of Jiři Trnka, Plzeň, Czech republic

2009/ KEBABB, Museum of Art, Žilina, Slovak republic

2008/ Digital graphic, Gallery Fx Academy of Arts, Banská Bystrica, Slovak republic

2008/ Graphic, Faculty of Fine Arts, Academy of Arts, gallery Slovak institute, Prague, Czech republic

2007/ Exhibition Heterogeneity, State scientific library, Banská Bystrica, Slovak republic

2007/ Exhibition of paintings, Faculty of Fine Arts, Academy of Arts, State Gallery, Banská Bystrica