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19.05.2012

Antonis Pittas

+31 (0)6 48187461

a.pittas@chello.nl

www.antonispittas.info

Colophon

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SHAME ON YOU

The installation 'shame on you' was realized in Annet Gelink Gallery (the bakery), Amsterdam, The Netherlands in February 2011 and consists of a graphite drawing on a wooden panel and two display cases.

The wooden panel is completely covered in vertical lines hand-made by graphite pencil, to create an opaque surface that invokes and counters the common association of a doorway.

The only light in the room emanates from the display case against the wall, in which neon light has been affixed. At first sight the display case seems to be empty, but there appears to be a small graphite wall drawing in the corner. A realistic drawing of a silver chain ID bracelet with a peculiar damage to it. The glass vitrine simultaneously functions as an architectonic object and a display to this drawing.

The second, standing display case also seems to be empty. Viewers will have difficulty locating the written message 'shame on you': it appears to be on the outside of the first glass panel, vulnerable to touch, but is in fact ‘floating’ sealed and protected within the vitrine. The written trace refers back to the creation of the graphite panel. ‘Shame on you’ invokes a sense of guilt, damage, voyeurism, but it also addresses viewers directly and concretely as they will likely touch the glass vitrine in order to find out ‘where’ the message is.

The installation is apparently simple but together the various elements form a challenging game of the conditions of experiencing displayed objects in a less then ideal environment.