proximidade
close proximity / / близость
  Installation by  Dasha Sitnikova (Russia)
Castelo de Evoramonte, Portugal 23 September  – 23 October 2014

Proximidade is an installation composed of hundreds of paper tubes onto which light is projected, creating lines and three-dimensional forms. The work reflects the helical geometry of the castle's spiral staircase, the architectural focal point of the building.

The large circle at the centre of the installation is both empty and filled with light. It marks the exact centre of the building and, metaphorically, represents the heart of the castle.
Developed through a series of experiments at OBRAS, Proximidade became a turning point in the artist's exploration of geometry in graphic expression, the relationship between light and shadow, and three-dimensional form within contemporary art. The installation is the result of a dialogue with nature, drawing inspiration from the Bauhaus tradition, the geometric constructions of El Lissitzky, and the spatial vision of Piet Mondrian.
The understanding that human beings are biological entities shaped by nature forms the conceptual basis of Proximidade. The work explores the relationship between people and their surroundings, focusing on the tension between emptiness, presence, and recognition. It captures a moment of reflection in which we contemplate our personal future—the feeling that our environment foreshadows something yet to come, even though its meaning remains unknown.
The future is represented by the empty circle, suspended in a dark space. Yet this apparent void is filled with the subtle presence of air, wind, and nature. It is this sense of proximidade—of close proximity—that brings light into the emptiness.
Watch the 30-second video clip of the installation to experience its shifting interplay of light and form. The slideshow below documents the project's development, including the artist's preliminary experiments, a full-scale trial in the patio, the installation process, a portrait session by Pedro Ferro, and a series of photographs by Luís Branco capturing the work during the exhibition opening.

Dasha Sitnikova studied Design on the Helsinki School of Economic and currently works in Moskow, Russia as design business manager at Design Depot and as artist specialized on execution of the human self-perception under special conditions of environment. She is co-founder of several non-profit public art projects.

The exhibition is produced by Foundation OBRAS and hosted by DRCALEN (Direcção Regional da Cultura do Alentejo). PR support was given by the Municipality of Estremoz.