As part of its partnership with CRATE in Margate, Kent, artconnexion offered a one-month residency to Cécile Wesolowski.

As a result of her residency, the artist made a film which was shown in an exhibition at artconnexion, as part of WATCH THIS SPACE, in December 2008.

East Europeen dating Meregate is a mock documentary made during a residency in Margate, Kent (UK), organised by artconnexion. It mixes autofiction, the staging of the particular atmosphere of Margate, self-filming and a topical theme: the trafficking of Eastern European girls.

In this fake investigative report, a team of journalists try to report all the information about Mrs Natasha, the founder of the fake marriage agency "EEDM" or "East Europeen Dating Meregate". A series of interviews follows, between two brothers who are victims of the fake Eastern European girls' profile scam, the hidden camera meeting with Madame Natasha, the account of her ex-assistant, the testimony of the B&B owner involved in a dark story of prostitution and the interview with a former prostitute.

"The Russian woman is an ideal wife: she is gentle, tender, caring, loving, always faithful and very devoted to her partner. She loves him sincerely, supports him, helps him in his work (if he wishes). Quite simply, the Russian woman wishes to create a solid and lasting union, based on love, sincerity and mutual understanding."

Cécile Wesolowski