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<i>State of Mind</i> explores boundaries between ethics, legislation, prejudice and civic expectations in the LGBTQ life of Russia focusing on lesbians and bisexual women. It discusses subjects such as shortcomings vs. possibilities, belonging vs. alienation, appointed- vs. selected identity. <br />
The foundation of the work is captured in personal stories and group portraits. The artists have been collaborating with organizations, activists and select individuals in St Petersburg during returning visits 2006-2008. <br />
<i>State of Mind</i> introduces a discussion of intercultural perspectives to identity politics. The stories are selected from documentary material collected in great trust between the artists and the interviewees in fieldwork. Leadership, democracy and human rights are central matters. <br /> On seven monitors all together 38 people politically and personally talk about life in St Petersburg addressing LGBTQ issues, East-West, private situations and confrontations, and the view of the future. They span in age from 17-67 and include students, journalists, psychologists, pole dancers, physicians, office workers, drivers, poets, lawyers, academics, business owners, rock stars, house wives etcetera. The video installation is constructed as a group portrait with a projection of the Neva River as a backdrop. In the large format photographs friends and families gather at different sites in St Petersburg. </p><p>
Lezzie Think Tank (LTT) is a traveling think tank on issues of community, activism, based on local needs infused with pan-national experience - forming coalitions between organisations and individuals. <br />
 The exhibition tour becomes the path for the LTT/Lezzie Think Tank. In addition to touring the photograpy and videobased installation LLT was launched as a forum for exchange of ideas and thougts towards an empowering network among activists within the LGBTQ scene using <i>State of Mind as</i> a stepstone for for not only the think tank but for seminars as well. <br />
 It started with an art residency in St Petersburg 2006, as the artists Annica Karlsson Rixon and Anna Viola Hallberg got a grant via NIFCA . Two years later the exhibition State of Mind starts touring with the Lezzie Think Tank (LTT). In a relay format a battery of issues are raised in one city and responded to by the next. The exhibition tour becomes the path for the think tank.<br /> In addition to touring the photograpy and videobased installation they launced LLT as a forum for exchange of ideas and thougts towards an empowering network among activists within the LGBTQ scene using State of Mind as a stepstone for for not only the think tank but for seminars as well. In 2009 we will also add a video workshop called &quot;Leaving Your Traces&quot;.</p><p>
 Title: State of Mind <br />
 Artists: Annica Karlsson Rixon &amp; Anna Viola Hallberg <br />
 Media: Installation, 11 C-prints and 8 channel Video <br />
 Duration: 7 reels with about 35 min of interviews on each running independently looped, 1 reel backdrop, 30 min loop<br />
 Voice: Russian, English, Swedish <br />
 Subtitles: English &amp; Russian <br />
 Original: 65 square meters, black box video installation + wallspace for 11 large format photographs.<br /> Production year: 2008 (2006-2008) </p>

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