“In a modern shopping center in Ostrava stands a telescope-like object pointed at the sky. We hear a low bass resonating and some vague melodies. The sounds invite visitors to come closer. Close enough to stick their heads into the machine and see – a video of a man sitting on some indefinable wood and metal objects. The atmosphere is alienating. He seems alone in his somewhat apocalyptic world, isolated, far away and unaware of us as viewers. The man appears to be building something. He drills, screws and rearranges some pieces of the heap he is sitting on. But building on what, we do not see. The man is completely absorbed in his activity, dissolved in his everlasting moment. We do not know the goal of the man’s work. Where and when does it end?

We are used to linear time. But – in a larger perspective – there is no beginning and end, only repetition. Because in essence we do the same as people before us and people after us.
The telescope and the sounds within give you the idea that you are going to see the universe, impressive, large and endless. Instead you see a man at work, confined in space. Building a universe of his own.

As human beings we are aware of our existence. And therefore we are looking for meaning in our lives. If we would look at ourselves as from another planet, how would we interpret our efforts?”

Wendy Oakes

Instalace Wendy Oakes působí uprostřed gigantického obchodního centra jako teleskop do jiné reality. Staví na kontrastu – k umělému prostředí zjitřené žádostivosti a snadného uspokojení klade alternativu světa jako něčeho znepokojivého, bez jasných odpovědí. Její přítomnost zprvu ohlašuje pouze temný zvukový drone, který se pozvolna mísí s hudbou a zvuky hypermarketu. K výraznějšímu posunu ve vnímání ale dochází teprve tehdy, když se divák odhodlá upřít svůj pohled do temného tunelu dalekohledu. Ve spojení s obrazem získává celá situace na naléhavosti a virtuální realitu hypermarketu střídá realita jiná, prostoupená postapokalyptickou atmosférou neurčitě definovaného prostředí industriální krajiny, v níž se před člověkem – namísto spotřeby – vyjevuje imperativ rutinní mechanické práce.