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the golden thigh – group project (video, paintings, instalation)
nataša skušek, katja skušek, mladen stropnik
original title: Pri zlatem stegnu, year: 2008
sponsors & contributors: center in galerija P74, galerija kapsula, koroška galerija likovnih umetnosti slovenj gradec,
www.zlatarstvo-skusek.si, www.solaprosticas.com, ministrstvo za kulturo, arhitekturni biro NOVA STRAN,
okvirjanje slik dolinšek s.p., www.fotodelavnica.si, www.povhnkufr.si

the golden thigh, daily menu, long chicken, sahar tarte, a la carte, entrees -  carrot soup, istrian cabbage soup,
danish soup, hello hello hello, tandoori chicken, greek meatballs, lemon squid , fish, karismaki luxemburg

The Golden Thigh is a restaurant where artists cater to the guests: katja and mladen are brother- and sister-in-law,
making katja and nataša sisters and nataša and mladen a couple with two children. this fact is not irrelevant and far
from banal! the best restaurants are usually family establishments, success stories based on mutual ties, trust,
devotion, affection and, of course, attentiveness to others. the host is not as important as the actual act of hosting,
which not only satisfies a human need, but is often a sign of affection.

throughout history many artists have demonstrated that food and the basic human need for eating can inspire art
and serve as the subject matter for its creation. the so-called “eat art” phenomenon dates back as far as
archimboldo and porcelain painting artist bernard palissy, both from the 16th century. It can also be seen in the
works of 20th and 21st century artists such as andy warhol, daniel spoeri, judy chicago, joseph beuys, dieter roth,
sonja alhäuser and many others. as one might expect, food can bring many topics to mind. our artists, originally
inspired by the phenomenon of cooking literature (one of the most popular and best-selling genres available), have
been cooking, frying, grilling, flambéing, blanching and organizing gourmet events for a long time. these events are
documented and put in a two-dimensional medium using the design style characteristic for modern-day martha
grahams and other cooking manuals with a great deal of kitsch esthetics, creating “pictures” framed in lavish golden
frames. the table, which makes for the best opener for a snack and offering hospitality, is part of the multi-media
installation. as the project title suggests, it is golden in color, acting as a conduit for the colors from wall objects in
“gesamtkunstwerk” style. Its symbolism emphasizes the high level of hospitality, enhanced with the esthetic
impression of flowers.

the beautiful piece of furniture decorated with a rich, colorful and vivid flower bouquet is nataša’s obsession. It is
featured in the video which presents a caricature of how obsession – regardless of whether its focus are objects,
people or animals – can overpower one’s common sense. The Golden Thigh is a project whose primary focus are
obsessions involving food. the artists play with these obsessions with a great deal of self-irony. food provides a
starting point from which they begin to explore their obsession with food, whether it manifests in feelings of
confident corpulence (mladen), (self-disparaging) feelings of “plumpness” and paradoxical glorification of roundness
(katja) seen in the golden female thighs in the video. this image, full of vivid colors, joy, gloss, irony and laughter
inspired the title of the multi-media installation giving the viewer a sense of fullness – whether it be a fullness of the
stomach or one of the soul.

maja škerbot, an independent art critic and curator