Site-specific painting installation, 2016
Part of the exhibition 5000 m2 in the former Lappeenranta city theatre, Finland
In Colour Room I painted the entire space of what used to be a flower storage in the former Lappeenranta city theatre. The building was due for demolition after the exhibition. By counter-shading existing shadows in the space I turned some of them invisible to the eye. Erasing shadows was a way for me to metaphorically connect to the imminent destruction of the building. Shadows have a dual nature – they are gaps and absences, and at the same time they are indirect evidence of the existence of what causes them. Detecting painted-out shadows in Colour Room called for sharp vision or pure coincidence, as their alteration emerged only when coincided with the visitor’s own shadow.
