Ulrike Johannsen

 

 

Self-Portrait as a Dwarf / Textzitat aus Oscar Wildes "The Birthday of the Infanta" in Spiegelschrift / Illustrationen
Bachstelze / Zweige / Holzscheite / Spanplatte / Kleiderbüste / Kette / Goldfarbe / Spiegel / Maße variabel
Hotel Pupik AIR /Schwarzenbergsche Meierei / Schrattenberg / Scheifling / A / 2011

Self-Portrait as a Dwarf / text quote from Oscar Wildes "The Birthday of the Infanta" mirror writing / illustrations
wagtail / twigs / wood / tailor`s dummy / chain / gold paint / mirror / Measurements variabel
Hotel Pupik AIR /Schwarzenbergsche Meierei / Schrattenberg / Scheifling / A / 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was a monster, the most grotesque monster he had ever beheld. Not properly shaped, as all other people were, but hunchbacked, and crooked-limbed, with huge lolling head and mane of black hair. The little dwarf frowned, and the monster frowned also. He laughed, and it laughed with him, and held its hands to its sides, just as he himself was doing. He made it a mocking bow, and it returned him a low reverence. He went towards it, and it came to meet him, copying each step that he made and stopping when he stopped himself. He shouted with amusement, and ran forward, and reached out his hand, and the hand of the monster touched his, and it was as cold as ice. He grew afraid, and moved his hand across, and the monster’s hand followed it quickly. He tried to press on, but something smooth and hard stopped him. The face of the monster was now close to his own, and seemed full of terror. He brushed his hair off his eyes. It imitated him. He struck at it, and it returned blow for blow. He loathed it, and it made hideous faces at him. He drew back, and it retreated. What is it? He thought for a moment, and looked round at the rest of the room. It was strange, but everything seemed to have its double in this invisible wall of clear water. Yes, picture for picture was repeated, and couch for couch. The sleeping Faun that lay in the alcove by the doorway had its twin brother that slumbered, and the silver Venus that stood in the sunlight held out her arms to a Venus as lovely as herself. Was it Echo? He had called to her once in the valley, and she had answered him word for word. Could she mock the eye, as she mocked the voice? Could she make a mimic world just like the real world? Could the shadows of things have colour and life and movement? Could it be that -- ? He started, and taking from his breast the beautiful white rose, he turned round and kissed it. The monster had a rose of its own, petal for petal the same! It kissed it with like kisses, and pressed it to its heart with horrible gestures.

Oscar Wilde, The Birthday of the Infanta