YOLO LAND

The art project "LOCKDOWN Welcome to Yolo Land" by

Mina Mania and Push Plastic deals with the issue of social isolation in times of Corona. 

All over the world people are put into quarantine to stem the spread of the novel virus. 

The threat is invisible and omnipresent, so each individual has an enormous responsibility towards his or her environment. 

The effects of the lockdown are multiple. From fatal social and economic consequences to the development of a completely different attitude to life. 

The previously known everyday life with its associated freedoms no longer exists. 

Public life is paralysed and private personal contacts are limited to the smallest possible unit. 

Feelings such as confusion, insecurity, fear, loneliness, doubt, helplessness and lack of freedom play a major role in this process. 

 

For many people, however, this situation also holds opportunities. 

The discovery of previously hidden abilities and interests, the processing of incidents in the creative process. Adapting to new life circumstances and recognizing them as a source of inspiration for new projects. 

Deceleration and introspection lead to other questions and new directions. 

 

It is an experience that Mina Mania and Push Plastic have. 

The two artists share a studio in Berlin and due to the fact that they are locked down together they have come to an intensive process of finding ideas. 

Through the mental examination of the Corona crisis, a common vision emerged which formed the art project "LOCKDOWN Welcome to Yolo Land".

The two artists are versatile and break new creative ground. 

 

When the pandemic is declared, there are some remarkable changes in people's social behaviour, which are particularly striking in terms of their themes. 

In a world that seems so controllable powerlessness, fear and desperation take hold. 

Among other things, exaggerated panic reactions come into the focus of the media. 

Hamster purchases, war over toilet paper and of course a whole series of internet parodies of current events in supermarkets attract attention. 

People use extremely creative means to retain their small freedoms in times of social distancing and travel bans in order to live out their plans or at least pretend to. 

 

Welcome to the realm of fantasy! 

Welcome to „Yolo Land“! 

 

More important than ever are now the wandering around in memories and an imaginary created retreat to escape the hard to bear reality. 

The "Yolo Land" by Mina Mania and Push Plastic describes such a parallel world.

The two artists have sewn two impressive Corona protective suits from used shopping bags and created the matching masks. 

With a wink they followed their first impulse: Protection!

The Corona protective suits are at the same time multifunctional and allow their wearers to retain a wide variety of freedoms. 

 

Mina Mania and Push Plastic want to tell their story. 

The idea of their independent series "LOCKDOWN Welcome to Yolo Land" is born. 

As protagonists of the series, they create their own personal image of the lockdown experience and their vision of freedom. Both protected and trapped in their suits.

 

Cohesion, support and motivation is a central aspect of this project for the duo. 

Artists and creative people are severely affected by the economic consequences of the crisis. 

But right now it seems that art and culture are more important to many than ever before.

 

With their series "LOCKDOWN Welcome to Yolo Land", Mina Mania and Push Plastic would like to make a meaningful contribution for artists and people interested in culture. 

„Yolo Land“ stands for their creative cocoon, in which they develop their possibilities and create new perspectives.

 

This includes especially creative impulses from outside to which they give an important place. 

Invited artists are encouraged to contribute in the form of video messages. 

These contributions will appear to Mina Mania and Push Plastic as „yolograms" in their closed space and provide for an inspiring exchange.