MIMIKOHLER

In the installation ‘I like the Daffodils the like I’, which takes place in a room converted with greenhouse foil, Mimi Kohler and Silja Lenz explore the phenomenon of narcissism in a profound way. The central element, a square, seemingly black pool of water, not only reflects the artworks and the viewers, thus tying in with the myth of Narcissus, but also serves as the basis for a metal framework on which small metal pedestals are placed. Daffodil bulbs in condoms are placed on these pedestals.

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The artificial environment of the room with green light and high humidity reinforces the feeling of being in a greenhouse and emphasises the lively and controlled atmosphere of the installation. This physical setting is complemented by a video performance in which the artists in white painter's suits show daffodils being dug up in the urban space. These sequences are interrupted by excerpts from trash TV, specifically an episode of ‘The Bachelorette’, which thematise the manipulative dynamics of human relationships.

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The connection between the video material and the physical plants is established by means of manure hoses that supply the plants with nutrients and thus draw a direct line from the media to the real world. ‘I like the Daffodils the like I’ creates a space that invites reflection on cultural and personal self-perception and challenges the viewer to reconsider their own position within these dynamically staged artistic-biological cycles.