The viewer is
going through a long semi-dark corridor and suddenly right nearby
somebody's breathing, heavy and powerful. It's the breathing of an
invisible giant. Somewhat farther along, there are sighs of a sleeping
child, easy and peaceful. Still farther, some old and, apparently, sick
person is wheezing. The exiting viewer is accompanied by a deep sigh of
relief. These sounds act as a reminder: We are here, we are always
here, we are right next to you. Who are they, the invisible ones? Genii
loci? Prisoners of an old fortress? Bogeymen, wood goblins,
poltergeists? Inhabitants of our memory? An elementary audio recording
awakens ancient animism in the soul of a modern person - everybody is
alive; everything is alive.
'WE ARE HERE' at
54 Venice Biennale - an exhibition by Ludmila Belova, Alexandra
Dementieva, Anna Frants, Ivan Govorkov, Elena Gubanova and Marina
Koldobskaya. Curated by: Silvia Burini. Supported By: Cyland Media Art
Lab; National Center for Contemporary Arts, St.Petersburg Branch; St.
Petersburg Arts Project; Fondazione Universita Ca Foscai.
Opening: 3rd
June, 2011 at 5 PM,
Venice, Italy.
“God
Possibly Surrounds” – said the poet Alexander Vvedensky. It
was in Leningrad in 1930. A completely different age, a different
country, a different city – everything was different and had a
different name. But these words have remained because no more important
words could be said.
History, one way
or around, “surrounds” – the everyday career and domestic fighting
against a background of the global news: vibrations of the political
regimes, fluctuations of the social climate, economic booms and crises,
marvels of science and fancies of art.
The poet said:
“Possibly”. If there is enough levity, we assume that all that is
happening has a meaning. If there is enough courage, we do not assume.
“The star of non-sense shines, It alone is bottomless” – that’s what he
said.
“God” is the one
who called you, and, whether you like it or not, you will have to
reply: “This is I”.
So, if He –
Possibly – Surrounds, then where – in reality – are we?
We are
here.
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