project 17/

TO ESCAPE FROM ONESELF

N. Libels, Photographer, Mogilev

Every person knows the feeling - some people to a greater, some to a lesser extent - of anguish and exhaustion, sometimes reach- ing a level of repulsion, from oneself: the inexplicable, but strong desire to abandon oneself somehow with one's worries and thoughts, one's affairs - either successful or not, it doesn't matter; to break that circle which we and others refer to as "I," and to leave, step out of if only for a while, onto the "other" side of our existence that is familiar and which we are fed up with. Some people, unconsciously sensing the approach of such a state, attempt to change their surrounding or activities as quickly as possible, or they try to be in a small circle of friends or in a large social circle, so that the voice resounding within becomes inaudible or at least not so loud among the other voices and conversations. Others in such cases habitually make use or familiar means - tobacco, alcohol, drugs - in order to muffle the state which seizes them so suddenly and with such force. But neither the first nor the second method provides sal- vation from the excruciating feeling, it does not lead to the desired liberation, but only defers it, pushing the spiritual illness even deeper.

Our project proposes, even though it may seem unusual. a radi- cal means for "abandoning" oneself. Many will think that it is beyond their strength and even strange, but precisely it, thanks to its radicalness, is capable of helping to liberate us quickly from ourselves and over a short period of time to return to our- selves again, only renewed and reborn for our further existence.

The project consists of selecting a small area in the city (preferably not on a particularly crowded street), you take off all your clothes and place them, each piece separately, at equal distance from one another, in such a way so that they form a closed circle with a diameter of approximately 2.5 meters. After that, place a small rug or board under you, sit down on it, assuming the position shown on the sketch. After being in this state for 40-45 minutes, this should be repeated over the next two days.

TO ESCAPE FROM ONESELF

1. Here is a list of things which you should place on the floor in a circle with a diameter of 2.5 cm

1. Underwear

2. Shirt

3. Trousers

4. Shirt

5. Sweater

6. Jacket

7. Boots

8. Coat

9. Scarf

10. Hat All the things should be neatly folded and not just tossed around, the things should not be new but worn.