A healing illusion / an interactive installation with objects, music, projections
project by Barbara Mydlak (PL) and Yann Deval (FR)

Inspired by an ‘unsend’ / deleted digital message - from both the recipient's and the sender's perspectives.
A moment in which the imaginary of the unreceived content, the illusions and emotions this vision evokes, blends with the uncertainty and fears of the sender.

Series of over 100 'Sent unsent letters' objects by Barbara Mydlak and musical compositions composed by Yann Deval in creation from April 2020 and still in progress.
Together, they try to find communication tools to build the dialogue beyond words by creating material questions and musical answers, or vice versa.

Texts written on handmade paper made from Kozo fibers and discarded, old office sheets, are concealed beneath layers of sugar.
To reveal the words, participants need to warm the surface, causing the layers to slowly melt away.
Conversely, if left in the cold for extended periods, the sweet layers change color and become increasingly illegible, resembling a layer of ice.
To hear the musical responses, visitors scan the QR code attached to the objects.

We are currently working on the next steps of the project, which aim to showcase the transformation of objects over time
and involve viewers as active participants who may decide to uncover the secrets or not.



Objects: 'Sent unsent letters'
material: recycled paper, kozo fibres
substances: ink, sugar
technique: handmade paper, own technique
size: max. size of one object: 22x32 cm
number of pieces: 60

Musical compositions (used in the video): 'Bouleversements', 'Boussoles'
instruments: upright piano, accordion, electric bass, electric guitar ebow, kick drum, eggs, harmonica, tibetan bowl, glockenspiel, moog synthesizer
number of compositions: 40

VIDEO with two musical answers / 16:9, 12'

Artworks, photography: Barbara Mydlak
Musical compositions, editing: Yann Deval

Project has been exhibited at:
'The New Crafts', The National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) - National Grand Theatre in Beijing, China (10.09-10.10.2024)
'I only count sunny hours', Barbara Mydlak and Yann Deval exhibition, BLANCO, Ghent, Belgium (November 2023)
International Biennial PAPER FIBER ART 2021/22, National Taiwan Craft Research and Development Institute Gallery, Caotun, Taiwan (12.11.2021-10.04.2022)
11th 'From Lausanne to Beijing' International Fiber Art Biennale Symbiosis and Coexistence, Beijing, China (online exhibition 16.01-16.02.2021)


About 'A healing illusion' by Isis Olivier:

"(...) Using kozo fibres, recycled fibres, ink and sugar, Mydlak’s work has tremendous depth and power. It has a beautiful texture and rhythm. It is emotionally charged.
If we stand back, the relief of each sheet of paper appears like a map before us. If we look more closely, the irregular surface gives the viewer the impression that we are looking at precious ancient relics.
Only fragments of the script are visible. Could it be a forgotten language? The viewer is left with a sense of loss, with the feeling that there is so much that we do not understand."

(...) 運用構樹纖維、回收纖維、油墨與糖，米德拉克的作品具有驚人深度與力量。此外更擁有美麗的質感及韻律；充滿情感。倘若我們後退一步，會發現每張紙上的浮雕彷彿眼前的地圖。
湊上前看，不規則表面則讓觀者以為，我們注視的是莫非是珍貴的古代浮雕。眼前得見的，只是斷簡殘篇。是某種被遺忘的語言嗎？觀者終究空餘失落，心知還有許多超越我們的理解。

Isis Olivier / an artist, co-curator of the International Biennial Paper Fibre Art at the National Taiwan Craft and Reserach Institute (NTCRI), Caotun, Taiwan, 2021-2022