Unreal Fortune

 

In May of 2020, I filled jars with air from the meadow and put them up for sale on Etsy for a horrendous price. That work was about putting value on invaluable resources such as, at the time, COVID-free air. Air which wasn’t cycled through over and over again. As opposed to the air in apartments of people forced to quarantine.

None of the jars sold yet and I've been living with 10 jars of air priced at 15 000 € each for 4 years now. It’s a curious state of quantum superposition. They are worth that much because I proclaimed it so. They are not worth that much because no one paid for them yet. 

As a result, I’ve been walking through life as a struggling artist and a very rich person simultaneously.

The title has a double, not determined meaning. On the one hand ‘unreal fortune’ can be seen as ‘unbelievable luck’. On the other hand, it’s just ‘virtual, imaginary wealth’. As the idea and collection of jars - they have no problem existing without either being classified as truth. Until they are sold that is.

The way in chose to have the work documented in 2d photographs was by setting the focus of the lens on the air in the jars as it is the true object of this not yet finalised sale.

Overall the work speaks about a possibly delusional hope for a big break, patience and unwavering faith.

Reach out to me at michalinamcap@gmail.com to arrange a private sale.

Reel Poetry

What if my words, the acts of capturing images and putting those together became fun again? Without the heavy weight of professional standards, I chose to internalise during formal education. Without the compulsion to create the best thing ever every time I set out to create anything.

My journey coming back to myself truly started on the new moon in October last year. I was visiting my home village and went to meditate in nature. Sitting down quietly in the tall grass in the dark I heard movement by the river. I realised it was most likely wolves and I was there hiding, acting like prey. That's not the most comfortable feeling. I had a choice to run away - like a deer would. But it became clear to me at that moment - I have the same right to be in that meadow (my Holy Meadow) as they did.

So I did what a proper witch would - played a song, sang along and danced. I didn't stop to listen if they were gone. I was too busy with my own voice and (quite erratic) movement. I was calling in all the confidence I'll need to stop hiding and apologising for being here once I get back to Berlin and to my daily life.

I had those little poems in my notes app some of them for years. They wake me up sometimes, I write down those combinations of words that just flow and vibrate. Only after collecting all my experiences to put them up on a website I realised that it all started with poetry. The date of my words being published in the local magazine coincided with my first period. Quite a clue regarding my kind of fertility if I do say so myself. 

The technological progress since I left school cannot be underestimated. What took 2 people and a heavy set-up can now be accomplished with my third-hand iPhone. What needed a powerful computer in an editing suit can be put together in an in-browser app.

In conclusion, I have officially proven to myself that creating can feel light, fun and joyful. Like going braless wearing a long flowy dress that hardly weighs anything on a hot summer afternoon.

Videos:
Reel Poetry 1
Reel Poetry 2
Reel Poetry 3 will remain private for now
Reel Poetry 4
Reel Poetry 5