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I visited The Baltic Centre of Contemporary Art to see the work of Monica Bonvicini: Her hand around the room. Bonvicini makes work that investigates the relationships between architecture, control, gender, space, surveillance, and power. Using sculpture, installation, video, photography, text and performance, her work ranges from the intimate to the architectural in scale, questioning some of the often hidden forces that shape identity.
When visiting the exhibition, the first thing you are welcomed with when entering the room is of a blanket of 144 industrial light fittings that are hung from the ceiling, captivating you within the light. The shining light, really disorientates you and you have to take a second to readjust to your surroundings. Once adjusted you can really appreciate the magnificence of the sculpture, how it commands the space that it is within and how you become aware of the scale of the room. In my opinion 'Light Me Black' 2009 is wonderful, it is a bold and bright, it really is a spectacle to see.
Whilst walking around the exhibition, there is a giant dividing wall which sits in the middle of the room, this is the artwork 'Legs Cut Out' 2016. The monumental wall although implied and throughout the exhibition and its many references to architecture, this is the only work to incorporate the human figure. The wall is collaged with idealised forms of bodies from glossy European magazines.
There are many more interesting works within the exhibition including 'Chain Leather Swing' 2009 and 'Satisfy Me'. I found it really inspiring seeing Monica Bonvicini's work being displayed, the scale of some of her work and the thought behind each installation, video and sculpture.