Vulnerability in the interpersonal meeting - poetry and every day life
Astrid Gjesing works in the field between relational aesthetics, sound, light, performance and visual art. She often works with difficult themes related to humanity, for instance loneliness. There is a great deal of vulnerability in the way Astrid Gjesing involves other people to co-create her art projects. She usually functions as the sender who for instance needlepoints in public space throughout a number of years. In this way she gets to meet fellow human beings whom she invites to contribute to the creation of the art project. This also involves the participants' reflection on thematic approaches that Astrid Gjesing chooses - in this case: loneliness. The participants usually get personally invested when they as co-creators sew or write. Thereby, the physical material (e.g. handkerchiefs) has a materiality and a joint story which unites the artist and the participant into a fellowship.
In her art project ”Kære Astrid” (Dear Astrid) she wrote a letter to all women by the name of Astrid who live in the cities she had previously lived in herself, namely Herning, Aarhus and Viborg. The women called Astrid were asked to write a letter back to Astrid Gjesing telling her about a person or event that had a great impact on their lives. Of the 269 letters she sent, Astrid Gjesing received a reply from 49 women. In the process the women asked themselves whether they should reply, whether they should get involved and considered the potential consequences of their participation. In other words, it is the participatory aspect that defines the expression of the resulting work of art. Is it possible to create a connection between two complete strangers?
While our times are characterised by text messages flying back and forth and social media blustering, Astrid Gjesing's works are characterised by slowlyness and afterthought, which invite us to reflect. On Facebook and in lifestyle programmes on TV people portray a charming image of their families and houses with a large amount of composure and finish. Astrid's projects on the other hand underline something very different: what it is that lies beneath the surface where we are vulnerable; what life is really comprised of and how we can reach and support each other.
Astrid Gjesing has a flair for presenting her works with a tight and minimalistic precision which frames the emotionally charged meaning without crossing the line towards the vulgar/expressive. The spectator is invited into a often very private universe that simultaneously is universally valid - and this is an immense quality.
By mag. art. in Art History Anja Raithel and translated by Adria Florea