Narrow and Wide Gate
The project is a site-specific installation realized in the space of the “Brama ku Farze” (Gate to the Parish Church) in Lublin. The central element of the work is a narrow structure embedded inside the wide clearance of the historic gate, incorporating the existing lamp found there. This juxtaposition of two pathways creates an immediate situation of choice: the recipient can continue their journey unhindered by bypassing the installation, or attempt to pass through its rigorous interior.
The structure is intentionally narrowed at the bottom, forcing a somatic experience of strain. This physical resistance directly refers to the symbolism of passing through the eye of a needle—a moment when we must confront our own weakness and the baggage of experiences and defense mechanisms we have accumulated over the years.
Resistance of matter
The heart of the work consists of two walls crowned with a parabola-shaped arch, spanned by a nine-meter strip of entirely hand-woven fabric. Every centimeter of this matter is the result of a painstaking weaving process which—much like the attempt to pass through the installation—is a record of grappling with the resistance of matter.
Expanding Consciousness
The structure of the fabric serves as a visual record of the process of releasing these burdens. In the lower part, the hand-woven weave is dense, dark, and opaque, depicting the limiting ego. The applied triangle pattern intensifies the impression of constriction. However, as it moves upward—just like during hours of work at the loom—the weave loosens, and the gate widens, symbolizing the process of expanding consciousness. The matter gradually gives way to the warp threads alone, revealing lightness and translucency.
Pure Presence
The peak of the structure becomes open-work and lets in light, symbolizing a state of pure presence. The physical tightness at the bottom corresponds to the feeling of being overwhelmed by the external and the acquired. Moving upward opens space for freedom. The finale of this trial is the silencing of the inner monologue and reaching a place where only pure existence remains.
Record of Passage
An integral part of the project is a video recording made during the event. A hidden camera documented the silhouettes of people attempting to pass through the installation. Thanks to its non-invasive presence, it was possible to capture a natural, bodily record of the struggle with the structure—a moment when physical effort becomes a metaphor for shedding unnecessary ballast, identical to the effort put into hand-weaving the material.