Makipaa & Ulfarsson display eco doom at Art on Lake in sinking ‘Atlantis'

"Atlantis" by Tea Makipaa & Halldor Ulfarsson at Art on Lake Photograph by Stefan van Drake (2011)

“The aim of the project is to evoke discussion, and to appeal to viewer´s personal feeling of responsibility on the level of daily life and choices.

“The second aim is to relieve the confusion and frustration of facing ecological issues, by making the choices very simple.”

--Tea Makipaa, about “10 Commandments for the 21^st Century.”

The same could be said about the collaboration between Halldor Ulfarsson and Tea Makipa, in “Atlantis,” a sinking cottage, a metaphor for civilization?

The appearance of “Atlantis,” a 2007 built-for-water protest against overheated consumerism, indulgence and waste, served as a warning.

Curators liked it.

"Atlantis" appears sinking at Art on Lake Photograph by Stefan van Drake (2011)

The pair´s symbol, which has appeared in various colors throughout Europe, inspires eco-sensitive curators like those for Art on Lake in central Budapest, site of 25 European Union artists´ individual contemporary water-based works (22 May -  4 September).

The Museum of Fine Arts Budapest launched the ambitious marine sculpture project,a sort of reprise of one it sponsored in 2000 with more than 20 Hungarian sculptors.

The position of the sinking green cottage or home also suggests, by its angle, a tipping point symbolizing a steady, irreversible path to environmental self-destruction.

Makipaa knows she´s not going to make allot of money and multi-national corporate friends with her works.

One of Art on Lake´s curators—Krisztina Jerger, Dr. Alexander Tolnay and Peter Fitz—in earlier literature about “Atlantis,” wrote:

“Sometimes we, ourselves bring about catastrophe, at others, we are merely victims. And sometimes, like the occupants of Atlantis, we do not even notice the changes taking place but just go on living our lives until water surrounds us completely.”

Art on Lake Catalogue, which came out earlier this month, emphasized the same theme of eco hell, humanity destroying humanity through wasteful hyper-consumerism.

Although Makipaa, age 38, frequently collaborates, as in the case with “Atlantis” and Halldor Ulfarsson, she produces and exhibits prolifically: at least six solo shows and numerous group exhibitions in the USA, UK, Japan, Europe, and Turkey.

Not long after she earned her MFA from The Royal College of Art, London, in 2003, she moved to Germany, where she continues to live and work.

"Down for the Count" at Art on Lake Photograph by Stefan van Drake (2011)

Rock on and practice peace and love.

Stefan, the ArtTraveler ™

ArtTraveler notes:

After living at the Hotel Queen Mary in Budapest (3.5 stars), I heartily recommend it: old on the outside, otherwise totally modern (23 rooms); 

The owner and staff are affable and speak English and German. Tel: 0036-1-413-3510; www.hotelqueenmary.hu; info@hotelqueenmary.hu.

Visit Andalusia for a walking holiday or week-long sculpture or mosaics workshop. 

See: www.spanjeanders.nl and www.competafinearts.com.

"Spanish Life Stilled," photograph by Stefan van Drake (2009)

You may reach me at stefanvandrake@gmail.com or by calling (34) 915 067 703 or from the UK at BT landline rates, 0844 774 8349.