Chur_Interveniert 2005 - Intervention Specific Local Artworks in the Old City of Chur 2.9. - 30.10.2005
Performance: 2.9.2005
Kirche St. Martin, Martinsplatz von 12-13 Uhr
Kantonsbibliothek/Staatsarchiv, Karlihofplatz von 14-15 Uhr
Capellerhof, Kornplatz 12 von 16-17 Uhr
6.9.-30.10.2005 Dokumentationstelle: Kantonsbibliothek (1.OG)

The Performance Mimesis refers to one of both feminine figures of white marble (Helvetia and Rätia), which were made by the Genevese artist James Vibert (1910). They are on both sides of the facades of the current post-office building (formerly post telegraph and duty building, built in 1902-04) on Grabenstrasse 20 in Chur. The figures refer to meaning of the building. For example, one figure carries letters in the hand and the other figure a torch. The artist obviously connects the symbols of Switzerland and Chur with those of the post office to one symbol. the figure chosen by the artist (Nezaket Ekici) carries a long garment on which the Swiss cross is to be seen. She holds with the right hand the edge of a the rope and with the left hand a torch. She sits graceful and handsome wlooking downwards. This figure is copied by the artist and transformed: She becomes a living sculpture. Besides, the figure is not simply copied, but also enriched. The figure comes to life by using acoustics and color. The artist makes sound, using a post horn without disturbing the basic intention of James Vibert, but enriching it´s expression. The post-office building lies outside, shortly before the oldest part of the town. Now the artist as a living sculpture moves into the oldest part of the town, by beeing replaced onto different roofs. The artist sits down on three different buildings of the oldest part of the town from 3 different times. The selected roofs are 1. the sacred building (St. Martin church, Martinsplatz, Late-Gothic facility from 18 centuries), 2. the canton library state archives, Karlihofplatz as well as 3. the Prophanbau (commercial building from 60-70 years of the last century, about the restaurant Capellerhof, on the grain place). The sculpture itself comes from the time of the symbolism. Therefore the artist confronts different times with each other. The Performance extends the figures particularly by acoustic aspects, without giving away it´s primary meaning: the Performance creates a general connection of time and area. It is a quiet Performance with an auditory event in it.

costume, Post horn, lifting platform

3 h

Camera: Andreas Dammertz