Oct 4 to Dec 2

Films by

Anna Jermolaewa

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«Aleksandra Wysokinska/20 Jahre danach» Video, HD, 41 min., 2009

In May 1989 Aleksandra Wysokinska helped the fleeing Anna Jermolaewa, who was forced to leave the USSR for political reasons, by granting her shelter in Krakow for one week as well as organizing and financing the further flight to Vienna, where Anna Jermolaewa was finally granted political asylum. The two women had never met before in their lives and also after those happenings haven’t had any contact again. The video «Aleksandra Wysokinska/ 20 years later» documents the first meeting of Anna Jermolaewa and Aleksandra Wysokinska after 20 years. While Jermolaewa originally intended to do a portrait of Aleksandra Wysokinska and to properly thank her for her help, the video tells the story of the flight of Jermolaewa as well as the story of her helper.

«Research for Sleeping Positions» Video, 18 min., 2006

In the video piece «Research for Sleeping Positions» (2006) Jermolaewa examines different options of possible sleeping positions on a bench which represents one of those ever-increasing benches in public space constructed as to prevent people lying down or sleeping. The video was shot at Vienna’s Westbahnhof, where Jermolaewa spent her first week as a refugee in the West in 1989.

«I am not afraid of a wax dictator» Video, 2 min., 2007

In her video work «I am not afraid of a wax dictator» Anna Jermolaewa approaches a wax version of Russian politician Vladimir Putin. The camera sways from one to the other side of the figure’s frozen, gazing face, while accompanying chimes create some kind of curious ambiance. Putin’s replica is exposed to a gapless investigation and is shown relentlessly close from various perspectives, whereby the awestruck distance towards the powerful has gone astray. The politician’s might and authority have ended up completely decomposed by means of direct juxtaposition. There’s no room for reverence as Anna Jermolaewa is not afraid of a wax dictator.

«Kiss» Video, 3 min., 2006

In her video «Kiss» (2006), Jermolaewa lets love play by showing the interaction of two Mickey Mouse masks, who, at the outset kissing each other lovingly, start, with growing excitement, to bite off little bits from the others’ faces until finally they end up tearing whole pieces from the others’ bodies. A process of loving, opening- up and the resulting dependencies and consequent possibilities of hurting or getting hurt is emotionally taken apart by a concentrated use of imagery.

«Single-Party» Performance/Video, 15 min., 2003

After extensive research in Vienna’s singles scene Anna Jermolaewa organized a singles party in her studio in autumn 2003 – resulting in some affairs, tête à têtes, happy relationships that lasted for years and this video piece documenting the party. «Ass Peeping» Video, 4:30 min., 2003

Anna Jermolawewa’s video work «Ass Peeping» (2003) recalls the daily duel between body and social surroundings in a witty and ironic manner. Jermolaewa acts as a voyeuristic stroller and creates a peep show with dressed protagonists, passersby on Vienna’s Mariahilfer Strasse. The rear views shown appear manifold; they vary in breadth, size, age and in their sashaying way of movement they transform the setting into a catwalk. Jermolaewa manipulates the normal, scoops it out of its context and renders it absurd.

«Trying to Survive» Video, 3 min., 2000

Due to an obscure power fourteen «standup men» stumble into an unstoppable movement, which with increasing speed causes the «stand-up men» to fall into the unknown and – accompanied by tawdry noises of blasts and bursts – to disappear. While «stand-up men» are commonly known for being toys for children; here they function as a symbol of the human ability of dealing with problems. A «stand-up man» is unswerving – he cannot be knocked over by anything or anyone and will always rise again to start anew. The video showcases this motif by means of a loop procedure. The piercing, shot-like collision of the figures beyond the line of visibility can be percei- ved physically. As a scaled-down version representing human beings the dolls touch the physical sphere and give birth to a simile of human actions and processes within interpersonal contexts.

(Texts: Galerie Engholm)

Anna Jermolaewa was born 1970 in St. Petersburg. She lives in Vienna.

Group shows (selection): «Dark Waters», The Station, Belfast, «Movie Painting», NCCA, Moscow; The 4th Int. Video Art Biennial, MCA, Herzliya; 6th Gyumri Biennal; «To discover and to own», MUMOK, Vienna; «Fractures of Life», KIASMA, Helsinki; Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam; «dAPERTutto»/48th Biennale, Venice.

Solo shows (selection): «Kinoglaz», XL Gallery, Moscow; «Step Aside», ICA, Sofia; «Kremlin», EDS Gallery, Mexico City; Kunstverein Friedrichshafen; Arsenal Gallery, Bialystok; «Playing along with Anna», XL Gallery, Moscow; Magazin 4, Bregenz; Ursula- Blickle Foundation, Kraichtal; IVA, Milwaukee.

www.jermolaewa.com