Maria Petschnig's 2013 Video Installation at On Stellar Rays Explores Flesh-Colored Universes

Maria Petschnig presented a solo exhibition at On Stellar Rays in New York City from May 5 to June 16, 2013, featuring video installations that immerse viewers in a flesh-colored, interior world. The show included works such as Vasistas (2013), Mycroft (2013), Holdmetight (2012), and Petschniggle (2013), with the latter starring the artist and her twin sister in intimate, suggestive scenes. Visitors navigated paneled corridors and dimly lit spaces, encountering close-up views of the artist's body, blurred backdrops, and materials like stuffed pantyhose and packing tape that evoked bodily forms. Petschnig's use of green-screen techniques superimposed footage onto still photos, creating a disorienting, self-referential environment. The installation's humor, derived from déclassé materials and invented terminology, balanced its potentially grotesque or pornographic elements. Located at 133 Orchard Street between Rivington and Delancey, the gallery's design mimicked a plumbing supplier, enhancing the immersive experience. The artist consistently turned her back to the viewer, emphasizing a sense of voyeurism and personal echo chamber. This exhibition highlighted Petschnig's exploration of physicality and identity through unconventional video and sculptural elements.