" The work of Beatrix Ost is often surreal, utilizing evidence of the past to question the tangibility of the future. Her work exists in a liminal space: a transitory plane where we are neither coming nor going. Her piece Into the Unknown is no exception.
Into the Unknown features two life size, hard-shell suitcases in the shape of human bodies. One of the most surprising principles of the work is that the suitcases themselves are not mere cut outs of the human figure; the volume of each figure is captured from the curve of the chin, to the hollow of the chest. The life-like appearance aids the viewer in projecting their own image onto the figure. In conjunction with the volume of each piece is the sleek surface of sculptures. Once can physically see their reflection on the surface of the suitcase as if they were staring into a glossy void.
The work speaks to the weight that we carry and the baggage that we hold. What are you carrying with you? Can you let it go?
When we face the unknown, it is often before an arduous journey. Along such a journey, the focus is placed on our own bodily autonomy: it is then that we are given the task of picking ourselves up and carrying ourselves to a (hopefully) better place). Focusing on our own autonomy can force us to look inward and conjure up feelings of consequence, making us ask the question ‘How have my actions shaped my future?’
The journey is not often easy; these pieces present us with a place of confinement. We do not know what the future holds as we see ourselves inside these sculptural deprivation tanks. The hard exterior of each suitcase lets the viewer know that it is carrying fragile cargo and that the journey might be rough. Hard shell packaging can also indicate a fast paced environment. Is humanity being shot into the future at top speed? If so, where will we land? Will it be a bright future? It can be bright if we make the right choices.
These sculptures echo images of a coffin and yet we come face to face with Schrodinger’s cat, not knowing if the contents of the suitcase are dead, alive, or simply existing in a dormant subconscious. As humans, we often see the future as the unknown. The visualization of a suitcase implies that we have not yet arrived at our destination, but we hope that our destination is one of redemption and peace. "
Deborah McLeod
Chroma Projects Art Laboratory
Charlottesville, VA