Exhibition:

RAPPROACHMENT with the public space

POSK Gallery, London

11. 05. – 25. 05. 2019

The exhibition “RAPPROACHMENT with the public space” focuses on the city spaces in the Czech Republic, Italy, Kenya, Poland, South Africa, and the United Kingdom, and their aesthetics. The researchers of TICASS project collected the pictures of their public space and prepared the documentary photographs for this exhibition. The aim of the exhibition is to get to know the recipients with other cultural patterns in a visual communication and bring them closer to the perception of the pictures. We assumed that people usually walk through the public place and their perception is in a standby mode, because they are attacked by many pictures, signs, and symbols all the time. They see the visual signs, but they do not (want to) decode the messages. The exhibition shows how the viewer could pay attention to what is present in the picture, and why it is there. Remember that there is a possible gap between what you see and what is the first impression.

This exhibition shows us the images of public space. But this exhibition plays a game with the viewers. At first sight, we see a lot of details, but just pieces of the documentary pictures captured in the cities. We need to switch on our imagination, examine the experience we have, and recognize the information in the picture.

We can also recognize some objects (boards that are a part of a public space) in this exhibition. If we will observe diligently, we find among  the documentary photography of public space electronic information signs and advertising signs of “mganga” (healer). These objects have taken our mind on a secondment stay in Szczecin (Poland) and in Kilifi (Kenya), where we presented the documentary photography for public. We are looking for an identification item from London now, and maybe the item will soon become part of exhibition in London too. And more objects or items will come with the next exhibitions in Macerata (Italy) and in Ústí nad Labem (Czech Republic).

Finally, we can find in all the photographs the six selected specifications from the public space of the cities by TICASS researchers – we can identify the underpasses, the pedestrian crossings, the public institutions, the entrance to universities, the titles, and informational boards. Are all these categories a part of the public space? Obviously. Don’t forget – all have more information; it will depend on our experience and skills when watching. Try to enjoy this visual game with pictures and open your mind.

The title of the exhibition refers to a noun “rapproachment” in the sense of an establishment or reestablishment of harmonious relations. Aesthetics is not rational. It is a culture, habit, craving, and identity. Looking at the contributions of artists, curators, and scientists, please pay attention to what is there. Try to go beyond, to notice as many details as you can, and ask yourself – why is it important? Remember that creativity is not just for artists. Let this exhibition be the beginning of your new perspective – a perspective in which you pay attention to what is next to you. Start being critical, start comparing the images, without prejudice and without background. This is your time to be critical, like a child learning how to read the world for the first time.

The exhibition is a part of the international project TICASS – Technologies of Imaging in Communication, Art and Social Science which focuses on the visual technologies and their significant influence on people, and also on visual literacy. “RAPPROACHMENT with the public space” is a presentation that will be transferred to all TICASS member institutions. The exhibition serves as a research tool and within the exhibition, the researchers work with different target groups in the form of workshops. The TICASS project is interested in the perception of the public space, so we ask the following question – how do people in different cities read, and how do they perceive, the visual signs, icons, QR codes, graphic designs, ­and pictures?

Curator of exhibition concept: Karolina Zawiślak 
Curator of exhibition exposition: Adéla Machová

Place:
Polish University Abroad in London
POSK Gallery
238-246 King Street, W 6 0 RF London

Opening hours of the exhibition:
MON–FRI 9am–9pm
admission: free