Purity 2019 - Maja Rakočević Cvijanov

The self-portraits from the series Purity are presented with attributes of physical cleaning within and without. The portrait with the laundry basket represents constant cleaning and washing of clothing, which overwhelms us at home. The figure with cotton wool represents the removal of make-up which we wear during the day so as to look fresher and more beautiful, while the sculpture with tea represents the cleaning on the inside, with the aim of organism detox. The medium of sculpture turns into a delegated performance in which women’s everyday routine of cleaning the house, body and organism is interpreted with the aim of searching for own proper measure.

At home, 2019.

The work documents several house errands that are performed daily, in cycles, with the purpose of home maintenance. This work follows the usual sounds of vacuuming, blow-drying, and doing the laundry and the dishes. The photographs depict a series of routine activities that are neither recognised as work nor paid, thus appearing invisible, while drawing tremendous energy from the woman. Alongside working on herself so as to stay well-groomed and beautiful, thereby gaining the stereotype of “the fairer sex,” the woman performs daily work around household members so that they would have a meal on the table every day without fail, making sure they learn the school lessons, takes out the garbage, cleans the excrement of pet animals, waters the flowers, vacuums, does the gardening, while she socialises with a smartphone in times of leisure. The vast amount of energy can be compensated by a bit of entertainment and sleep, and the same routine activities at home continue tomorrow after work. With this work, I also re-examine what out of that which we live is our own choice, and what are the expectations of those around us, especially if the woman is an artist who must “steal” time to do her work amidst all daily chores and routines. The everyday life thus becomes the main motif of her artistic activity, while the invested time becomes an image that is inscribed in the event as an artefact.