Patrik Proško

In the Omani desert, I wanted to create a sculpture of a fountain or geyser—something contrasting that only sheiks in such desolate places could produce, and functional on top of that. But what material could I use to make a fountain in the desert? I intended to construct it from various items locals used for water in the camp or anything related to water. However, I couldn't use any of the usual items they utilized. Behind the camp, they had a few discarded things: several water hoses, old bent structures for large water tanks, various pipes for drainage, faucets from sinks, shower pipes made of lightweight alloy with joints, and a pile of decommissioned toilets. I was without a car and had only basic tools like a knife, cardboard, scissors, zippers, and similar small items. I found a spot, dragged all that mess there, and began building. I must say that working in the desert sun for two days is quite a challenge. The sand was so scorching that working barefoot was impossible. There was no shade anywhere, so all day I wore a cap and glasses, and the guys brought me water regularly to prevent dehydration. I built everything on that fluid sand, which behaved like water at first, making everything unstable. I laid the structures on top of each other, and everything else was either woven or just leaned against them. However, the inclination of the structures began to suspiciously tilt on that sandy surface. In the afternoon of the second day, I decided to take continuous photos because it was quite windy, and things kept falling, the planks here, the hoses there. Just as I took a few photos, a sudden gust of desert wind blew stronger, and EVERYTHING COLLAPSED!!! "That's life," I said. That's how it goes with my installations sometimes—they disappear before I can finish them. Zen. At least I have a few photos; I didn't even manage to shoot a video of the place or a group photo with the locals who helped me. Only now, looking at the photos, I realize it looks more like a strange sci-fi drill from which oil droplets spray directly into chemical plants… uh, toilets, I meant. It's like the remnants of a fountain urinating oil!