Biennale 2011: Nedko Solakov

after a little look around National Museum and much more of Kallang Airport (minus East Block) this Biennale, my recommendation is please check out Nedko Solakov-Liao Jiekai's site-specific artwork at the latter's famous control tower.

yes, my favourite so far is located at the most shining locations of them all. it is the very spiral stairs that lie beneath the tower. to be honest, i was blown away. by its intelligence, its simplicity, how powerful it proves to be, and the story behind it.

the acclaimed Bulgarian artist was commissioned by Singapore to do up something for the Biennale. one tiny problem: Solakov is aviophobic. that means he has a fear of flying and cant possibly come create a site-specific project. i dont know if it's mocking or ironic but somehow it ties in nicely that his work's at an airport.

it became an impetus for what transpired. he in turn invited SIngapore to send an artist to Sofia to understudy his style and bring back his ideas. artist and filmmaker Jiekai did just that, chronicled in a documentary screening at the very site now. he returned and created a Solakov piece with his own local twist.

Solakov is famous for the words he scribbles everywhere in his site-specific works, which are combinations of important messages he wants to bring across and ingenious observations. he had told Jiekai, let's not bring anything into the site, just enter the tower and start scribbling what you find and think up, let the site speak for itself.

and we have art.

you'll find scribbles implying portraits; portraits that dont exist but that you must imagine. you'll find scribbles noting the dust, the hand and footprints. you'll find scribbles that give a twist to the most minute of details, like a crack in the wall or peeling paint. scribbles note the abandoned pail, the exit sign, the fire extinguisher, the door handle, the light switch. one window faces the Marina Bay skyline, and there are scribbles; another faces the demolished National Stadium, and there are scribbles. Jiekai even pokes fun at Solakov, scribbling below the tv that the documentary's the latter's way of stealing back some limelight. the site's so detailed that organisers apologise in a sign that cleaners had accidentally removed hair and feather that were part of the artwork.

truly, the lines between reality and art have been blurred.

i fail but the event synopsis explains much better: "The 'work of art' in this instance is the actual training, the knowledge and experience of the artist’s touch – the mental and physical ways Solakov inhabits, and works with, space."