Lilia Bakanova | Artist



[un]included



2023



About



The installation (in collaboration with Valentina Andreeva, a hearing-impaired artist) morphs a typical living room into a mostly white setting, intentionally stimulating senses beyond sight. Distorted functions of recognizable objects are a metaphor of those who do not fit rigid societal norms. Both Valentina, as a hearing-impaired artist, and Lilia, as a parent of an adult son with disability, often feel invisible and marginalized by the society.


As a visitor engages with the objects, it becomes evident that they no longer serve their usual purpose – for instance, the bed may unexpectedly emit disconcerting noises when a visitor attempts to sit on it. Tactile and olfactory objects are accessible to diverse audience.


Objects made by the artist included a lamp, a mirror, a bed with a pillow, clothes and olfactory objects.



Dysfunctional clothes, size variable



The texture of the white cloth used in these garments is initially soft and fluffy, resembling a popular synthetic non-woven insulating material. From a distance, the melted patches mimic a delicate lace pattern, but upon closer inspection, they reveal an uneven, scratchy and crumpled texture.



Mirror, 80x130x17 cm



This is a metaphor for the unseen realities of parenting a child with disabilities, being excluded from the conventional narratives of "happy parenting." The mirror invites viewers to engage with their own reflection, but its framing disrupts this act of self-recognition. This deliberate obstruction speaks to themes of exclusion and inclusion, questioning who or what is considered part of a given narrative or space.




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