+ urbanart + Clare Martin & Sille Kruck +

Galerie Treppenhaus, Ubhf. Steglitz, Berlin
9 October 1998, 6-8pm, EST

This work explores the (im)balance of the expected and the unexpected of communication between two people working on a project together. Factors like slow mail, language difficulties and also different energies in 'Kommuting' produced a work that expresses time and dependency.

Seeds of watercress were carefully placed on the stairs, leading up to the work of three other artists on the next level, to grow and cover the stairs during the time of the exhibition. The placement of the watercress would allow only for little or restricted movement. While restrictions prevented the communication between the artists, the physical restrictions on the stairs allowed the viewer/visitor to experience something similar. In the duration of the exhibition the watercress grew large quickly, conditions in the stairwell were rather 'ideal', unfortunately it was not cut early enough to allow further growth for the remaining time. An effective use of little information that was or was not exchanged.

Clare Martin & Sille Kruck
Stairwell Public Office, West Melbourne
9 October 1998

The staircase images created by Clare Martin formed a visual link between two levels of the Public Office and the appearing and disappearing communication between Sille Kruck and herself.

Both decided to use the stairs as the work would grow in complexity as one walked up the stairs. Text grew, words emerged, plants grew but only when nursed and looked after. A strong link developed in the work over time and with the viewer's perception.