SANDING TO SEE

In Sanding To See, Sandra Stanionyte and Yuki Kobayashi engage in a physically and metaphorically demanding performance, testing the boundaries of endurance, balance, and perception. A 2×4 meter sheet of plywood is placed in the space, with sanding sponges lining the walls on either side. The wood is unfixed, able to fall to either side.

The action begins with the artists standing still, facing each other. They pick up the sheet of wood and position it between them. For the first hour, they explore balance, testing the pressure point between their bodies. The sheet shifts in the space, moving with their bodies. When one applies more pressure, the wood falls, testing their ability to maintain equilibrium.

After an hour of finding balance and understanding the material’s movement, they begin sanding towards each other. Yuki focuses on one spot, breaking through the first layer of wood in a few hours, while Sandra struggles to penetrate the surface, even after three hours of effort. As time progresses, the physical exertion intensifies, yet their focus sharpens, driven by the repetitive action of sanding. The space fills with dust, making it increasingly difficult to breathe. At one point, Yuki leaves, the wood drops, and he kneels by the wall, coughing and struggling to breathe. Sandra picks up the wood again, and Yuki returns, continuing until the exhibition closes and the audience is asked to leave.

This performance is not about separation but about revealing—about breaking through walls, blind spots, and boundaries. It operates both literally and metaphorically, as the artists work to uncover what lies beneath the surface.