| "The
work presented here, a 1997 video called I'm home when I'm not,
is based on a situation exercise. The lean-structured film reflects on the
position of the documentarist, who is both a researcher and a creator. While
in England on a fellowship, Szacsva y Pál not only wanted to learn
how life goes in the homes of the small community, but also wanted to experience
the intimate situation of belonging to the community. Since this is something
a foreign student can hardly experience, he chose a difficult and taboo-breaking
strategy, when he set out to find locals who would agree, after an encounter
on the street or a telephone call, to open the doors of their home before
a stranger. On one of the displays we can see a documentary of the organization
process, a desparate attempt at communication. Again and again, Szacsva
y Pál tries to explain his project, convince others of its interest
and innocuousness, and get them to cooperate. In compliance with the rules
set by the artist, adventurous locals not only allow a view of their common
life for an hour, but also make sure Szacsva y Pál can feel at home.
Since passivity is the privilege of the guest, the artist asked to be provided
with tasks for the duration of his stay which would make him feel at ease."
(excerpt from a text by Edit Molnár, published in the exhibition
catalog of the show "Private Matter?", Kunsthalle Budapest,
2005/06) |
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