Lukáš Machalický

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Galerie SPZ

Profi and Hobby

This installation examines several aspects of the theme of profi and hobby. The works on display take their colours from Bosch electric power tools, which can be blue (profi) or green (hobby), and the installation is based around several construction lasers. The division between profi and hobby does not only apply to DIY enthusiasts and the construction industry, but also to contemporary art. Electric tools and lasers are used when installing exhibitions, and measuring, surveying and levelling are all integral parts of this theme.

An overall view of the exhibition presents a rather ambiguous jumble of objects: mirrors, polystyrene blocks, sheets of blue and green paper, rulers, tripods.

Blue Laser No. 1 sends a red dot around a series of mirrors placed along the perimeter of the exhibition space. Via the mirrors the signal travels over the room and comes back to produce a red dot on the laser itself. This is an absurd and pointless system that merely measures itself. Laser No. 2 is combined with a green composition on the wall. The laser’s signal is aimed at a point above a question mark. The large-format screen print above it uses the official Bosch colours. A (deformed) red question mark is surrounded by a graphical confusion of meaningless logos printed one over another. Laser No. 3 transmits a perpendicular line to a wall, dividing it between blue (profi) and green (hobby) paper, or rather compositions.

The Panel wall installation is based on the aesthetics of a pegboard for storing tools, with a grey rectangle painted on the wall. Rather than pliers, hammers and screwdrivers, it holds bent rulers, which are usually used for exact measurements, drawings and designs. There is no particular rule for how they are arranged, no order, and they look a little like question marks. Similarly there is a polystyrene object inspired by the Czech fondness for polystyrene cladding on buildings. Paradoxically the colours used for the polystyrene are reversed, with green for profi and blue for hobby. (artist’s introduction)

1
installation view
DOX Centre for Contemporary Art
foreground: Laser 2 (screen print)
Bosch GPL 5C Professional, screen print
variable dimensions
2
installation view
DOX Centre for Contemporary Art
right: Laser 3 (wall)
Bosch PCL 20
variable dimensions
3
Laser 1 (mirrors)
Bosch GPL 5C Professional, Manfrotto F810, iron structure, mirror
variable dimensions
4
Laser 1 (mirrors)
Bosch GPL 5C Professional, Manfrotto F810, iron structure, mirror
variable dimensions
5
polystyrene, laser paper
100 × 50 × 145 cm
back: Laser 1 (mirrors)
Bosch GPL 5C Professional, Manfrotto F810, iron structure, mirror
variable dimensions
6
Panel
rulers, wall painting
190 × 60 cm
7
installation view
DOX Centre for Contemporary Art
8
installation view
DOX Centre for Contemporary Art