Textile object, Städtische Sammlung Erlangen
Diana Galli's Correlating Buddies (2024/25) are large, thick, soft, and plump. We want to hang out with them, hug them, or lovingly squeeze them. They lie there, stand in the corner, or fly above our heads. They all seem cozy, downright peaceful, and carefree despite their monumentality. They seem to invite us to join their gathering and become one buddy among many. Each buddy is unique: they have short or long teeth, are wavy, U-shaped, or triangular. Their shapes are irregular, soft, and organic.
The interaction between the buddies also involves color and scent. They are dressed in pink, yellow-green, orange, light blue, dark blue, purple, and beige, and enveloped in the scents of neroli, yuzu, mandarin, lavender, incense, vetiver, and tonka. We breathe in and perceive the mixture of scents in the room. And we only need to change places and the interplay of scent, color, and form is recreated. The artist invites us to interact tenderly with the buddies. The starting point and reference point for the installation are our bodies and our senses: smell, sight, touch.
The Correlating Buddies tell of hanging out together, of mutual strength, support, and tenderness, and of how individual parts can become a greater whole.
The work Dark Blue Buddy (2025) is a gift from the artist to the Städtische Sammlung Erlangen.
