Maria Dundakova, Beijing Biennale 2019
„Artists have differing approaches to the artistic process; some spend little time on creation, while others devote a great deal of time to a large-scale project. From the germination of an idea through the research process to the actual creation of the work takes a great deal of time.“
Antoni Muntadas
The entire body of my work is focused on the dialogue between nature and urbanity. My projects foster and celebrate the interaction between people, moments in time, space and media. They emerge from the collaboration amongst dancers, actors, musicians and the participating audience. I seek a connection between existing life events and new, continuing rhythms, as participation in life itself. These rhythms may originate in nature or even from the richly nuanced impressions of the work. The process plays a decisive role in every project. I aim to open up a world that draws us in and may help us to perceive our own feelings and associations in a broader context.
I employ a broad palette of media such as photography, installations, painting, graphics, drawings, sculpture, soundscapes, landscape design, choreography and participation events. Projects are developed in response to personal invitations, and during important international art events in Switzerland, France, Germany, Israel, Brazil, the Netherlands, Argentina, South Korea and China. They may serve as the basis for new stories or as a symbol for the start of the artistic process. I seek connections between existing life events and construct new rhythms. From these emerge interdisciplinary crossover cycles of work.
Since 1968, I have concentrated on projects such as „Communication Art“ (1975), „The Way of the Shaman“ (1983),“The Rite of Spring“ (1986), „At home – The Farmhouse Project“ (1989-2018), „Stone Rite“ and the continuing large-scale project „Sun Rite“.
„Sun Rite“ is a cyclical work, a „work in progress“. Several subprojects have already been recreated at multiple venues: these include „Baptisme“, „La Mémoire du Geste“ („The Memory of the Gesture“), „Sonnenwende“ („Solar Solstice“,) „Der Kern und die Frucht“ („The Kernel and the Fruit“), “Berlin Tides“, „Rhythm“, „What’s Your Name?“, „Hey Wave!“, „La vie douce, la vie amère“ („The Sweet Life, the Bitter Life“), „At Home“, and „I go!“.
As in life itself, the individual projects are connected to the environment and events: „Sun Rite“ had its inception in 1991 at the lowest point below sea level, the Dead Sea. The project was continued in the European Capital of Culture at the time, Dublin, and at the 21st São Paulo Bienniale. It was further developed in 1992 as part of the United Nations Cultural Programme at the Conference for Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro and 1994-5 in the European Capital of Culture in Luxemburg.
Maria Dundakova as student 1966