the art space abstract.

“An island in the Baltic Sea, a Soviet neighbour, and an agent 007 style desperately trying to feel something by pursuing his fantasies and obsessions. A stuffed animal, a book, and a lamp post that serve no purpose, purporting to be decorations. Vernacular photographs on the wall that follow passers-by with
their glance. A castle that protects from the enemy. The drawbridge is useless, an invasion is imminent. Zapp's legacy will unveil more secrets than thawing permafrost, and the Anthropocene is part of a societal voyeurism plot. The
antagonism of wanting to be seen in the face of the enemy has not had the final say. Saaremaa will win.”- Stéphane Winter

After a lot of research on spy cameras, the name ZAPP, the first word of the title of the exhibition, seemed an obvious choice for the artists: it recalls the name of the inventor of the miniature camera, the VEF Minox Camera (see flyer and poster, camera on the right), invented in the 1930s. Its prototype was
developed in Estonia, which led to people taking an interest in this land that was barely known as it was, and even less for its technological prowess. In less than a century, this spy tool has grown from a cult object from Cold War times to a connected device for the masses used to film people without their
knowledge. The object that you wouldn’t want to see and that is not supposed to be seen is bought to satisfy fantasies and obsessions, which are made accessible with just one click on the internet.

UURIMINE SPIOON, the Estonian words for “investigation” and “spy” sum up the purpose of this project. The duo hopes to enter in conversation with these themes by understanding and investigating this new generation of voyeurism.

A scenography has been arranged for the audience to understand the subject. This furniture is popular in the Baltic countries and recalls the time and place of invention. The inconsistency of the elements scattered in this space questions the viewer who becomes its protagonist. The most innocent of objects become the most disturbing once you imagine them starring at you with an evil eye. The desire to be seen and its antipode are confronted with each other. The TV screen gives away the answer, but it merely unveils human nature that is curious and cautious at once.

The idea of organising events, from a place other than an art space, was a logical development in the artists’ approach: the residency will be in Saaremaa for a few days, an island off the country where the spy camera came from. This movement in space will also make it possible to fully understand the meaning of the three words the title of the project consists of. The project also includes daily live streams from the Estonian archipelago. A complete immersion in this isolated place historically linked to tales of invasion - Saaremaa has been coveted by several states in the last century because of its strategic geographical positioning - will allow the duo to deepen their research and their understanding of this little device that is so sought after.
All videos performance of these happenings are published on the Instagram page of abstract, @abstract_artcontemporain and @dextroyante.
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