Skin Stories II - Archaeology of Skin

A solo exhibition of new work developed as part of an ongoing research project considering biological skin as a naturally intelligent ‘technology‘. Berzina was invited by the British Council, the British Embassy in Latvia and the Latvian Embassy in London to put on this exhibition in honour of The Queen's visit to Latvia. Those three organisations jointly funded the work, the catalogue, an artist's talk and a panel. Works in the exhibition included a new interactive textile installation “‘System”‘ (2m x 3m) and an updated version of an earlier interactive installation: “Sensory Screen” (3,5m x 2m). For these works, new electronic systems were designed, developed and embedded in textiles. The textile displays, which are made up of conductive threads, switching systems, micro electronics and laminating systems, were developed in collaboration with TITV (Textile Research Institute Greiz in Thüringen, Germany). The other two artworks in the exhibition were:“ Membranes II” consisting of 33 small size manipulated textile pieces in wooden boxes 20cmx10cm each (dimensions : 0,5m x 10m) and “Membranes III” consisting of 13 small specially manipulated textile pieces mounted on biological specimen glass slides and each placed under magnifying glass (0,6m x 2m) The exhibition was accompanied by a catalogue ‘Skin Stories II – Archaeology of Skin‘, ISBN 9984-39-041-1. Work from the exhibition was also shown at “Our Cyborg Future?” at the Discovery Museum, Newcastle (10. August- 27.October 2007)