Im Nebensinn von Dagmar und Doris (In the Subsense of Dagmar and Doris)

In their installation video work Im Nebensinn von Dagmar und Doris (In the Subsense of Dagmar and Doris), the two artists Jasmin Bigler and Nicole Weibel transform everyday objects into entities with their own agency. The two repeatedly show up as protagonists, making their way through various environments. When they appear together, they are dressed in matching earthy tones. Objects show up in different forms, and the artists perform unexpected actions, gradually giving rise to a feeling of irritation.

A total of 19 image sequences appear on two screens, contrasting with and gradually displacing one another. The individual sequences don’t coalesce to form a consistent narrative, yet nor are they simply unrelated. Several motifs recur in diverse variations. For example, we see pink sponges attached to a bath robe. In one sequences, they are cut into long strips, resembling fingernails; in another, they fold together to form a flower which slowly opens as it soaks up water. Water plays a role in several sequences. Images of a lake, a sink or a well are anticipated on the soundtrack by the sound of water.

The transitions between the image sequences are announced both in the sound and the visuals. There is a change in the background noise of splashing water; motor noises and the sound of twittering birds announce a new image; or the new image introduces a new element to the soundtrack. The two artists give us new perspectives on seemingly boring objects in unremarkable environments, staging them in a playful, humorous and imaginative manner. (Leonie Bauer)