Zhana Ivanova
Imaginary Magnitudes
Language and imagination bring worlds into existence. Linguistic description, and its reality-producing dimension are a point of focus in this session. Conditions are set for language to gradually shape a collective imaginary space. An operative script calls for its immediate enactment, exposing a certain tension in the space between what is in language and what is in the world. A discrepancy between what is intended, what is imagined, and what is actually happening.
The session is conceived as a gradually unraveling structure, traversing several modes of sharing and presenting. Fragments of a casually encountered scripted scene resurface in a conversation with a dear friend, while it dissolves into stage directions with hints of magic realism. As descriptions become prescriptions, things are literally spoken into existence.
Bio
In Zhana Ivanova’s multidisciplinary practice, a live performance component is almost always present, with other forms preceding, being the result of, or in some other way relating to performative gestures. Language plays a key role, and power relations are of central interest.
Born in Ruse, Bulgaria in 1977, she moved with her mother to England in 1990, and is now based in Amsterdam since 2004. She was educated at Queen Mary University College, London, DasArts and Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten, Amsterdam.
Presentations include Kunsthalle Basel, Astrup Fearnley Museet Oslo, Fondation D’Enterprise Ricard Paris, ARCO Madrid, De Appel Amsterdam, Playground Festival Leuven, FIAC Paris, Mendes Wood DM Sao Paulo, Framer Framed Amsterdam, Centre Pompidou Paris, Roberts Art Foundation London, Lafayette Anticipations Paris, Performatik Biennalle Brussels.
Ivanova’s work is represented by Ellen de Bruijne Projects, Amsterdam. She is a core tutor at BEAR (Base for Experiment Art and Research) at ArtEZ, Arnhem.