STUDIO VISIT
· Jul 1, 2020
Relax Revolution Movement. Relaxation as Resistance was launched during a Rundgang-exhibition at Hochschule für Bildende Künste — Städelschule, Frankfurt am Main between February 14 and 16, and later it was shown on February 29, 2020 for the
Ein Abend im opencreek hotel at the Museum Angewandte Kunst, Frankfurt. It relies upon an idea of non-capitalistic engagement through mental and body collective self-care, mutual care and solidarity. It could as well respond to the contemporary search for ways of experiencing spirituality, which would not be driven by any religion.
The intervention took place in a rented van, generously facilitated by Villiam Andersen, an artist who is about to start to use it as an exhibition or studio platform. It draws its inspiration from different — often Eastern — customs and traditions such as getting together and spending time in baths: Russian
banya still plays an important role unifying people, no matter which class they represent — they sweat together, enforcing immune system and social relations. Or
hammam which was a prominent feature in the culture of the Ottoman Empire, a safe space for women who normally cover their bodies can spend time together laid bare as no male gaze reaches them. Relaxation is seen here as a shared experience, not production. Channelling the energy into an alternative economy, not a material production but situation production and relations production. It's about solidarity, enforcing human relations (by physical presence), resisting the attention economy. In a sense, cleaning can be seen as a religious, spiritual act, but as well the effortless, collective and mundane act of resistance. Therefore alternative, herbal-based treatments and therapies can have political agencies as seen from a current perspective.
Alfa Omegi, Relax Revolution Movement. Relaxation as Resistance, Städelschule, Frankfurt am Main, 2020. Photo by Alicja Wysocka
Alfa Omegi, Relax Revolution Movement. Relaxation as Resistance, Städelschule, Frankfurt am Main, 2020. Photo by Alicja Wysocka
Alfa Omegi, Relax Revolution Movement. Relaxation as Resistance, Städelschule, Frankfurt am Main, 2020. Photo by Alicja Wysocka
Alfa Omegi, Relax Revolution Movement. Relaxation as Resistance, Städelschule, Frankfurt am Main, 2020. Photo by Alicja Wysocka
Alfa Omegi, Relax Revolution Movement. Relaxation as Resistance, Städelschule, Frankfurt am Main, 2020. Photo by Alicja Wysocka
Alfa Omegi, Relax Revolution Movement. Relaxation as Resistance, Städelschule, Frankfurt am Main, 2020. Photo by Alicja Wysocka
Alfa Omegi, Relax Revolution Movement. Relaxation as Resistance, Städelschule, Frankfurt am Main, 2020. Photo by Alicja Wysocka
Alfa Omegi, Relax Revolution Movement. Relaxation as Resistance, Städelschule, Frankfurt am Main, 2020. Photo by Alicja Wysocka
Alfa Omegi, Relax Revolution Movement. Relaxation as Resistance, Städelschule, Frankfurt am Main, 2020. Photo by Alicja Wysocka
Alfa Omegi, Relax Revolution Movement. Relaxation as Resistance, Städelschule, Frankfurt am Main, 2020. Photo by Jelly Luise
Alfa Omegi, Relax Revolution Movement. Relaxation as Resistance, Städelschule, Frankfurt am Main, 2020. Photo by Jelly Luise
ALFA OMEGI often creates situations located at the intersection of art, design or social activism. The speculative brand was established by Polish-born artist Alicja Wysocka, who now pursues her education at Städelschule, Frankfurt am Main. The name coined by Wysocka references the Omega Workshops founded in 1913, London by designers and manufacturers who believed that sharing their skills would allow them to get more self-reliance and independence from institutional support. Thanks to her device, Wysocka investigates ideas around communities by looking at inducing and healing activities ie. manufacture workshops, weaving, and eventually leading to creating alternative economies, such as in the case of her Cooperative Spółdzielnia Ushirika run in Mathare Valley, Nairobi, Kenya (alongside Razem Pamoja Foundation), where the manufactured products intended to celebrate communal work and support a local community. It utilised the experiences of artisans, craftsmen, and draws inspiration from local traditions.
@alfa_omegi
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