A joint project of art studio To You and artist Maria Kutuzova.
During the day a 20-meter labyrinth was built in the open air on an unequipped city beach.
The image of the labyrinth reflects the cycle of life, with the constant search for a path and choice, the ideas of eternal return and continuous existence. In the context of modernity, it is a whole world, a universe, a movement, a path or a search.
Looking at the structure of the labyrinth, we see its multifaceted nature.
The labyrinth itself is a structure, a manifested symbol of being and life, and at the same time the laws of being that limit life. At the same time, the absence of the labyrinth or the exit from it represents the whole of the unmanifested, having no laws and form and objectified being, and therefore unlimitedly free.
The walls of a labyrinth are a defense and a barrier at the same time. Being in one or another circumstance, we cannot always afford to turn to one side or another, thus protecting ourselves from the dangers of the labyrinth or limiting ourselves, perhaps even moving further away from the exit or goal. We may meet someone along the way, we continue our journey with someone, somewhere our paths diverge. Walls give direction to our movement, not always our road is safe and not always it leads to an exit. Paths that lead to dead ends give us a chance to take a break, to stop or to get stuck in a kind of comfort zone, from which we get out by ourselves or by force.
In the ancient Greek myth of the Cretan labyrinth, the hero Theseus, reaching the center, meets Ariadne and defeats the Minotaur. The path to the center of the labyrinth means a metaphor of rebirth and change, life as a path to goals through obstacles, losses and gains, meetings that bring help and danger.
The labyrinth limits desires, dreams, opportunities social contacts, knowledge, skills and more.
On the other hand, the labyrinth as a symbol of the Way and the Search expresses the idea of human movement towards truth, freedom — this is what forces a person to move, takes him out of the state of inertia. Passing through the labyrinth is renewal, transformation, new birth.
The way out of the labyrinth is to go beyond, to get rid of limitations, the unknown, absolute freedom and truth.
But is there life after release? And what is freedom and truth? Is there absolute freedom?
The construction of the labyrinth involved interaction between participants, passers-by, musicians, a tea ceremony, and an artists' intervention.
Photo of the performative practice “Labyrinth vs Freedom” (Batumi, Georgia), 2022
Author’s archive.
The temporary installation “Bonfire” consists of logs, kindling and fabric. It is the central and main object of the performative practice “Labyrinth”.
In cosmogonic myths, fire plays the role of the main element.
It has a dual symbolism, combining both life-giving and destructive energy, creative and destructive forces. In mythology, the flame plays a key role in the birth and death of the universe, the struggle between good and evil.
The path to the center of the labyrinth is a metaphor of rebirth and change, of life as a path to goals through obstacles, loss and gain, encounters of help and danger.
Thus fire itself can be interpreted as purpose, knowledge, power, meaning, truth, as well as danger, obstacle, and evil.
Could there be something else?
What will be at the center of the maze for you?
The viewer is invited to answer questions, ask new ones, and speculate about the important and essential things in their lives.
Photo of the temporary installation “Bonfire” in the performative practice “Labyrinth vs freedom”. (Batumi, Georgia), 2022
Author’s archive