Košice

Three weeks ago today, I arrived in Košice, Slowakia to partake in the KAIR artist in residence programme here. Since then, I have been living in an apartment in one of the what is sometimes referred to as ‘commieblocks’ just outside the city centre.

The city centre consists of a beautiful old square with a church, theatre and a singing fountain positioned in between, serenading passersby with relatively old 80ies and 90ies pop songs in a quirky tone of voice. Around the square are picturesque old streets lined with buildings which can be reached through gateways leading to and off courtyards. These buildings mostly seem to be occupied by small businesses, including countless coffee and food places, sewing workshops, and accountants.

My studio is located in the centre of the city, just off the main square, in one of these courtyards. Every day I climb the stairs to Šopa gallery, next to which I work and make noise, attempting to hammer grommets into fabric.

I have spent the first week visiting many spaces from which I could choose to do my project in. The last two weeks I spent making test after test, as the material I will be working with is new to me and we really need to get to know one another.

However, today I officially start working in the space I have chosen to present my end result. The space is called Kotolňa. A small building resembling a house, located in the courtyard of the former Tabacco Factory here. Ironically, this used to be the heating house for the whole complex, but now holds temperatures lower than outside. Nevertheless, the space is amazing and worth shaking for.

My plan is to build a huge object/ installation there, which reacts on the space itself. I won’t give much more information about this yet, as I want you curiously lusting for the end-result which will be public on 8 December. Below, some first impressions of my new surroundings.

View of city centre and surrounding commieblocks, photo taken from close to where I live