Exhibition Review: Conditioned Comforts by Emma Fsadni
Artist Emma Fsadni’s solo exhibition ‘Conditioned Comforts’ is currently on show at Spazju Kreattiv in Valletta until September 5th. ‘Conditioned Comforts’ centers around the mysteries of the self and places additional awareness on our psychological motives for seeking certain soothing mechanisms. Fsadni’s thorough preparation process involves substantial, in-depth conversations with peers and acquaintances. The insights she gathered make up the body of her work, all in association with the word ‘comfort’. What makes us call something comforting and why? Is seeking comfort innate or is it an engineered behaviour? Fsadni explores this concept through the use of several media. From installations and photography, to her abstraction of forms, Fsadni’s ability to successfully traject others’ psychological complexities into minimal art forms is what makes the exhibit so astounding.
If we take a look at the quotations that belong to the individual works (under every caption), we can safely assume that all the individuals she spoke with tended to clasp on to universal meanings in relation to the label ‘comfort’. Fsadni seems to generally want to challenge these notions. Her works carry a sense of provocation, as her direct questions continue to stifle, upon viewing them even at face value; Are our feelings really ours? Or, as Fsadni puts it, are we being conditioned?
PROTECT - IN CONVERSATION - "These comforts have integrated into society, something as simple as clothing, gives us safety, covering, protection, but from what?"
An interesting fact of the matter is that the works appear to take a rebellious stance; one that overtly challenges our reality. Fsadni’s artistic interpretation is more than clever – for instance the work titled PROTECT. We all understand the definition of this word, albeit differently. It gives some a feeling of comfort and maybe the very mention of it may make others feel suffocated. In this case, the individual interviewed by Fsadni took the example of clothes. Clothes protect us, but from what? Fsadni translates these words into an artistic vision; that of an asymmetrical cube with bold, baby blue and red outlines, a contrasting black, an irregular triangle and another of this shape in a light brown tone. One of these two triangular shapes looks as if it has been ripped out from the cube. The cube is encompassed with a hardly visible line. The unevenness of shapes in this work might represent a principal challenge as we know shapes to usually be comforting if they are symmetrical.
As the public continue to explore the gallery rooms, they will continue discovering these passages underneath the captions, free-style poems and more… all aiming to unearth our conditioned behavioural systems – SAFE SPACE, BOUNDARIES, SURFACE LEVEL, DISTANT. Works such as CONSTANT and SUBMISSIVE are where the artist uses a peculiar symbol, where in its nature, appears to be a hoof-like shape. The repetitive factor may be an ambiguous message. Other messages like that of the boxed-mirror-installation – DISTRACT, is but a straightforward one. The in conversation spells out to the public its meaning – our dismissive attitude towards nature. In the literal sense, we must take a hard look in the mirror and introspect on what life is becoming and what it will indeed become in the future.
SUBMISSIVE, installation view at Spazju Kreattiv (1), details of SUBMISSIVE (2), photo credits – @ve.l.la Instagram ARTZ ID team.
I would say that the most breathtaking and heartfelt work of the entire exhibition is HAPPY MEDIUM situated in the last room of the gallery space. Fsadni’s voice soothingly guides and hypnotizes the public while helping them search and reach for their inner happy place. A transparent white fabric hangs loosely from strings to form a partially-enclosed space – mimicking a tent. Immediately, Tracey Emin’s installation – Everyone I Have Ever Slept With comes to mind. What may bring one to a sudden halt prior to entering this room is the loaded statement in the in conversation section – The thing is not everyone knows that there is this option…a.k.a happiness.
Fsadni’s works will make you surrender and reflect on the here and now. You will be forced to introspect on the habits and behaviours of the twenty-first century and its associated reality. Her fascinating works will undoubtedly transmit an all-out energy that will make you want to go on a quest of soul-searching. Attending this exhibition is highly recommended!
For more information about ‘Conditioned Comforts’ visit Spazju Kreattiv’s exhibition webpage. Follow Emma Fsadni and her latest work on ARTZ ID.
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