geometric frustrations

Marina Kassianidou

August 25 - October 28, 2022

“East Window SOUTH and NEST Studio for the Arts present a solo exhibition by Boulder- and Limassol-based artist Marina Kassianidou.

The exhibition revolves around a series of drawings on sheets of log-log graph paper printed by U.S. Department of the Interior Geological Survey Water Resources Division. The graph paper was likely used to record stream discharge data over a long period of time through a flow-duration curve. After the paper was rescued from the trash, Kassianidou  crumpled individual sheets, partially unfolded them, and then meticulously drew over every resulting mark.

According to applied physics research, the creases form in specific mathematical patterns, which allows the material to relieve any stress caused by the deformation. The crease also protect the material from further damage; they enable the paper to retain its material integrity while adjusting to the modified space allotted to it through the reshaping.

The process of crumpling paper parallels the folding of Earth’s crust due to compression. When the constantly moving tectonic plates in the crust are pushed towards one another, the crust might bow upwards or downwards, causing the formation of mountains, volcanos, sinkholes, or rifts. “

The crumpled paper in Kassianidou’s work hovers between surface, ground, recording tool, draft, drawing, map, material, refuse, and site. The work enacts a series of representations, translations, and material connections, creating networks from the smallest to the largest movements that frame our surroundings.”