Text by art historian Camilla Jalving ; project vitavrap 2009 www.granaten.dk

Through the visual artist, sound artist and curator Vivi Christensen´s paint installation, exhibited in the old Ships Smith, the audience is invited right into the heart of the family. On four big paintings, held in aqueous, nearly transparent colours, Vivi Christensen describe scenes from the family life.

There are children sleeping in the rear seat of the car, playing on the floor, and lying in the sofa watching television, caught as if it was photography, a quick flash from everyday life. Across the paintings video shootings from the artist’s home are projected. Everyday details such as a bluebottle, crawling on a window frame, a curtain flapping in the wind. When the lights are switched on, the artist steps forward into the paint and video installation, for with a crispy and thin voice to sing two songs; One about her childhood and the other to her husband. Without distance and irony the artist lets us see and look upon a part of life, which is often invisible, whilst being that which fills the most of every day life for most people. The Artist shows family life with all its triviality, conflicts, quite pleasures and moments of silent blessings. It is neither sensational nor outrageous, but an example of a life and an attitude towards life.

Photo Kirstine Mengel