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Somewhere to Swim
Unveiling the uncanny: a dystopian stillness in empty pools
The 19th-century Uncanny was embodied by the Haunted House, but today, the SARS-CoV-2 virus has become the representative of the uncanny in our time. Sigmund Freud described the uncanny as a source of dread and creeping horror, arising from the transformation of something once familiar. Photographer Anna Dobrovolskaya-Mints explores this phenomenon in her thought-provoking series, 'Somewhere to Swim,' capturing empty public spaces that evoke a sense of forgotten lives. During the lockdown, she embarked on a journey across England, seeking hope but finding perspective in the void. Her photographs of empty hotel swimming pools, usually associated with pleasure and relaxation, now exude a dystopian stillness. Dobrovolskaya-Mints' critical vision exposes the truth that beauty requires a perceiver. The pandemic compelled people to reflect on the painful reality of need, transcending economic backgrounds. The pools symbolize the profound truth that we prefer violence over a world devoid of economic capital. 'Somewhere to Swim' marks Dobrovolskaya-Mints' first project in an urban setting, highlighting the absence of human presence and prompting us to confront a world without us. The pandemic reminds us that our accumulated wealth is meaningless without people. Dobrovolskaya-Mints' work challenges the illusion of rose-colored glasses imposed by infrastructure and productivity, refocusing our gaze on the uncanny haze that reveals a new world that we live in. Exhibitions: Barcelona, Spain, 2021 and Paris, France 2022.
