BEFORE AND AFTER
YEAR: 1998
.
GROUP EXHIBITION: »Boomerang«, Kunsthallen Nikolaj, Copenhagen, Denmark.
MATERIALS: 1 tonne of apples and dialogue text on A1 photocopies.
BEFORE AND AFTER consists of a manuscript printed on 4 large photocopies glued onto the wall of the exhibition space. 1 tonne of apples lies on the floor in front.
The pile of apples on the floor constitutes the motif for the sequence of events detailed in the manuscript. The scenography describes the exhibition building. The manuscript has been mounted on the wall behind the pile of apples. The manuscript features a dialogue between
Anja Franke and Kaj Aage Drafenharden. The dialogue describes a psychedelic situation in which he (Kaj Aage Drafenharden) is turned into an apple and she ends up eating him. In contrast with what we commonly experience in our society, the masculine character – rather than the feminine ditto – here assumes the role of victim.
Language is utilized to reverse these roles.
DIALOGUE
BEFORE AND AFTER
– Manuscript for the Apples
SURROUNDINGS
The space is oblong: all the way down
on each side there are large, open vaults
leading to other spaces. The ceiling was
originally higher, but has now been lowered.
There are no windows but daylight shines
through from above. Artificial lighting
illuminates the space beyond. Various
objects are placed on the walls and the floor
of the large, central space and in the adjoining
rooms.
PEOPLE
They meet accidentally in the central space:
None of them want the meeting to turn out
as embarrassing as the last time they were
together. Hence he has decided not to
repeat the scene that led to their clash.
She does not want to mention it for fear
of provoking the same situation once again.
Neither of the two wishes to reactivate
the story.
KAJ AaGE DRAFENHARDEN [KAaD]:
»How does this look?«
[He is writhing in front of her, trying to straighten out
the parts of his body.]
ANJA FRANKE [AF]:
»It looks fine; maybe you should try a
different combination?«
[She is observing him, imagining how his body might
otherwise appear.]
KAaD:
»Like this?«
[Pointing at the upper part of his body and then
at the lower part.]
AF:
»Perhaps ... «
[Nodding her head up and down, thinking of his
transformation.]
KAaD:
»It’s all wrong. I should get a new one
like the one I had before.«
[Pointing at a heap on the floor beside her feet.]
AF:
»Why do you have to repeat that over and
over again? ... Now, try this one!«
[Looking at him, she imagines how the routine manner
in which he presents his own identity might easily
be taken over by a machine. Pointing out another spot
she notices a smell of summer and ripeness in the room.]
KAaD:
»This one?«
[He is walking in the direction she indicated, waving
his hand above his head.]
AF:
»Yes, for instance.«
[She imagines him rocking over-ripely on the floor
like a round fruit.]
KAaD:
»Oh my God! ... How does this look?«
[He is sweating, wishing it all over so he can use
the old one again.]
AF:
»No ... No ... You might try that.«
[Now she clearly sees the fruit in her mind.
As if in a dream, she observes the fruit swarmingly
reproducing itself on the floor.]
KAaD:
»Do you think I can look like this?«
[He has never felt so far removed from his own body
as at this moment.]
AF:
»Yes ... That one too.«
[Pointing at another spot in the room she notices how
the produced body of fruit levitates from the floor in
slow motion.]
KAaD:
»But that won’t do!?«
[Walking towards the spot she indicated, he feels
an intense tickle in his stomach. It is as if the floor he
is walking upon is disappearing under his feet for
a moment.]
AF:
»Come on. Try it!«
[She observes the floating body of fruit slowly descending
onto the floor, randomly settling in a heap.]
KAaD:
»Oh ... I don’t know ... Uhm ... «
[He sees himself as an old, shrivelled apple core,
and wishes that he could rise above this floor
in her arms - towering above this building.]
AF:
»Ha-ha ... Cheer up! ... Hee-hee ... Ha-ha-ha
... What a tickle.«
[She is watching him standing on the floor, his shape
rapidly changing from one fruit to another, he is practically
everywhere.]
KAaD:
»What’s so funny?«
[He feels insecure, imagining the building disappearing
and becoming smaller and smaller under his body.]
AF:
»It’s hilarious ... «
[She is filled with laughter inside, trying to recognize him.]
KAaD:
»Do you really think this is working?«
[He gesticulates and surrenders to her.]
AF:
»Well, of course ... «
[Watching him, she thinks he looks like a swollen object –
but in a poetic way.]
KAaD:
»Do you really think so? ... «
[He hears his own voice becoming almost silent
as he twists and turns, evaluating himself.]
AFTER
She is alone in the space, moving rapidly
up and down. She walks toward a heap
of apples lying in a mess on the floor.
She picks up one of the many sweet-scented
apples – and looks at it. She turns it
in her hand. Finally she puts the apple
into her mouth and takes a bite. She tastes
her mouthful one more time before cheerfully
taking another. Standing completely
still on the floor, she enjoys the eating:
slowly consuming the remains of the apple.
After each bite she carefully turns the apple,
choosing another place to bite. Thoroughly –
with great precision – she eats all of
the flesh. Finally, there is nothing left but
a small apple core which she throws away.
She wipes her mouth and walks toward
the opposite side of the room.
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