As the title of Addiction already conveys, the theme of the work is addiction. Nevertheless, I did not want to use in its making substances that are literally addictive, such as food or stimulants. Instead, I chose to use objects that symbolize addiction but represent, as such, “material humbleness” and “innocence.” The artwork consists of aluminum cans filled with water, which cover the walls of the exhibition space. Since the cans are “purged” of logos and trademarks, I wanted them to contain water in order to reach the unity between an object and its contents – the same colorlessness and anonymity. Despite its invisibility, the presence of water has a strong influence on the acoustics of the exhibition space, creating an underwater or a subterranean, cavernous feeling. The work also includes two mutated shopping carts, which I found from the mouth of a railway tunnel used by freight trains. Most likely somebody had placed the carts on the rails so that the train ploughed into them and pushed them aside with its massive force. When I found the carts, they were covered with dirt, smeared with graffiti paint, and partly rusted. I washed them, removed stains and paint, and finally polished them. Once the carts had regained their original shine, they reminded me of objects that had first melted in high heat and then cooled into their new form. Since I did not want the carts to be lying on the floor like passive, helpless victims of accident, I remodeled them so that they now rise from the floor like a macabre dancing couple (Danse Macabre). From the formal point of view, they express the elementary starting point of sculpturing, rhythm.

© Timo Heino, 2011