Patrik Proško

Heart

site-specific intervention, 10x3x4m, shipwreck, waste, fishing tackle

Kizimkazi, Zanzibar, Tanzania

2021

Heart

I fought terribly, terribly hard in myself with the fact that I can't create anything here in peace, because someone is still addressing me and constantly trying to sell me something. But extremely. There was a time when I wondered if I wanted to go out to fight again, just to walk around. But that was also the moment when I understood that the best way to deal with it would be to involve others in the project. Hey, coconut, local food, dolphins ... it was falling on me again when I explored the fishing village and its coast. Wait stop, stop, I'm going to counterattack right away, not thanks to any dolphins I don't want but I would have another request. I like the shipwreck here and I'd like to turn it into an art project. The guy looked at me a little strangely and what I wanted, so I continued with a little apprehension. I'm an artist, I drive the world like this, and I do things like that in different states, and I showed him photos. Would it be possible to do a project with this wreck here with you? I will pay. For his rent and for work. As the guy heard, he immediately agreed that it would be possible, we just have to agree with the owner of the wreck. And so we went. Coincidentally, the owner of the wreck was the owner of Jahazi restaurant, the ship-shaped artwork I had there for dinner. In fact, it was the other way around, I got there for that dinner through the wreck, because it wasn't just any dinner, it was a business meeting. They also asked me what I wanted to do with the wreck and if I could destroy it even more. I assured them that no, that I would just like to sculpturally complete its destroyed shape from things and waste that is all around it, and that I will clean it up again after the photoshoot. The guy was very inclined to the project, he liked the idea very much and said to me: "You're like me. glad to fix it, but I don't have the money. " "Then I'll give you some money for it now," I replied. It was agreed how much it would cost to rent a boat, for how long, how much it would cost for their help at work, and he offered me all the things he had left in the restaurant. So I had the opportunity to dig it from the ground to the cellar. The next morning I arrived, we started to tie all the things to the place by car and collect waste from around the wreck, so we completely cleaned the beach. We had a lot of spectators and observers, but also supporters because it turned out that there are still a few things for the construction. I needed the big boxes that fishermen use for fish and nets, also the destroyed freezer, the buoy, the orange toilet, and other things that I had to rent. There were also more and more helpers, some even carrying their belongings from home if they could not rent them and willingly helping with the construction, so in the end, it cost me twice as much as originally agreed. But it doesn't matter, I was happy about it all. For me, it was the most meaningfully spent money so far, and I was happy to support everyone because they supported me. The ship is called Moyo, which is from the Swahili translation of the Heart. Together we loaded the heart with all the richness with which we also completed its broken shape. The ship now looks whole again, as if it could have another chance to set sail. Even if only the guy added some money to the money box to repair it. This is not an art based on "how" something is masterfully done, nor on "why" something is conceptually done. We glued the whole thing together with cardboard, which I have already drawn from Prague. It was a joint work and the essential thing is that "that" was done. That's the most important thing for me because from now on I don't stop going anywhere, I don't fight with anything or anyone, I like to go to them for dinner and talk for coffee on my own. They won my heart and accepted mine, and together we repaired the wreck of the Heart. Even though we are so different, we are actually exactly the same and we solve exactly the same things. It's a social installation that has brought people from two continents closer together. And when I wanted to go to discuss it after the photoshoot, they said to me: "No, don't clean it up, let's leave it at that, these things have a better place than when they were rolling around"

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