to be doggo
Exhibition design for the solo exhibition of Maja Simišićexhibiiton design
project year : 2024
location : Trixie, The Hague, Netherlands
scale : 1:1
Film + concept: Maja Simišić
Text + curation: Jovana Trifuljesko
Spatial design: Alicia Rottke Fitzpatrick
Photography: Vladimir Vidanovski
Text + curation: Jovana Trifuljesko
Spatial design: Alicia Rottke Fitzpatrick
Photography: Vladimir Vidanovski
In [Maja Simišić] video artwork “To Be Doggo”, accompanied by an interactive installation. Simišić delves into the daily lives of EU families who've adopted dogs from non-EU countries. While humans navigate a labyrinth of paperwork and prejudice, it seems our four-legged companions have mastered the art of international relocation. "To Be Doggo" is more than just a tale of canine migration. It's a give and take, a process of questioning the absurdities of human society, institutional power dynamics, and the often-frustrating world of migration laws.
As you enter the exhibition, prepare to be treated like the good boy or girl you've never aspired to be. The artist has crafted an immersive installation that puts visitors through their paces, requiring compliance, patience, and perhaps a willingness to submit to arbitrary demands.
As you enter the exhibition, prepare to be treated like the good boy or girl you've never aspired to be. The artist has crafted an immersive installation that puts visitors through their paces, requiring compliance, patience, and perhaps a willingness to submit to arbitrary demands.
The journey through the exhibition mirrors the often humiliating and frustrating experiences of navigating bureaucratic systems. You'll jump through hoops, wait patiently, and follow instructions to the letter. And just when you think you've earned your citizenship - or in this case, the right to view the film - you're faced with the ultimate question: Was it all worth it? It's a bit of a scam, really, much like the promises made to those seeking a better life abroad.
The artist [Simišić] is forcing us to confront the nature of our systems and the dehumanizing treatment of those we deem "other." She playfully subverts the concept of adoption, leaving us to wonder whether immigrants might have an easier time if they could be "adopted" like pets. It's a notion so absurd, but just might make sense in the kafkaesqeue chase for loopholes in the system.
The artist [Simišić] is forcing us to confront the nature of our systems and the dehumanizing treatment of those we deem "other." She playfully subverts the concept of adoption, leaving us to wonder whether immigrants might have an easier time if they could be "adopted" like pets. It's a notion so absurd, but just might make sense in the kafkaesqeue chase for loopholes in the system.
The exhibition design for Maja Simic’s solo exhibition, ‘To Be Doggo’ transforms the gallery into an immersive adoption center, playfully questioning the rights and roles of humans and dogs in relation to obtaining EU citizenship. Through its spatial narrative, the design blurs the lines between species, challenging visitors to reconsider societal structures and explore identity from a canine perspective.
The experience is divided into three zones, each encouraging visitors to engage with the concept on physical, emotional, and intellectual levels.
The experience is divided into three zones, each encouraging visitors to engage with the concept on physical, emotional, and intellectual levels.
1. The Waiting Room introduces the adoption process in a sterile, clinical environment. Visitors are invited to register and immerse themselves in the bureaucratic absurdity of being “adopted.” The sterile design reflects the dehumanizing nature of paperwork and registration systems, setting a satirical tone.
2. The Play Space flips roles entirely, asking participants to embody a dog’s experience. Through playful activities like walking, eating, drinking, and interacting in canine ways, visitors are prompted to explore the boundaries of identity and empathy.
Finally, 3. The Screening Space invites visitors to recline on oversized dog beds, to glare at a sculptural dog bone structure, immersing them in Maja’s film, allowing them to resitate stronger with the questions and absurdities being raised.
2. The Play Space flips roles entirely, asking participants to embody a dog’s experience. Through playful activities like walking, eating, drinking, and interacting in canine ways, visitors are prompted to explore the boundaries of identity and empathy.
Finally, 3. The Screening Space invites visitors to recline on oversized dog beds, to glare at a sculptural dog bone structure, immersing them in Maja’s film, allowing them to resitate stronger with the questions and absurdities being raised.