PERFORMING MEMORY
The installation Performing Memory examines
the cultural values that have been displaced from Ukraine’s territory, beginning with the Soviet era and extending into the present context.
the cultural values that have been displaced from Ukraine’s territory, beginning with the Soviet era and extending into the present context.
>
>
>
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
1/3
One of the most significant cultural treasures of Ukraine is the frescoes and mosaics of Saint Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery. Due to the relocation of the capital of Soviet Ukraine from Kharkiv to Kyiv in 1934, the Soviet authorities decided to destroy Saint Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery to make space for an administrative building. The frescoes and mosaics, created in the 12th century by Constantinopolitan masters, were removed from their original foundation and transferred to another base. Through the example of these masterpieces of ancient Russian art, we can observe the complex circulation and connection of Ukraine’s cultural heritage with its contemporary political history. For instance, the mosaic St. Demetrius of Thessaloniki was removed and sent to the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow. The gallery had planned an exhibition on the occasion of the anniversary of the monument of ancient Russian literature, The Tale of Igor’s Campaign. However, the exhibition did not take place, and the artifacts remain in Moscow to this day.
A small part of the frescoes remained in Kyiv and were exhibited in the Saint Sophia Cathedral, which was turned into a museum. During World War II, the treasures of Saint Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery, including the mosaic and twenty-seven frescoes, were looted and taken to Germany. In 1947-49, some of the frescoes returned to the Saint Sophia Museum, but many fragments of frescoes ended up in Moscow, Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg), and Novgorod.A small part of the frescoes remained in Kyiv and were exhibited in the Saint Sophia Cathedral, which was turned into a museum. During World War II, the treasures of Saint Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery, including the mosaic and twenty-seven frescoes, were looted and taken to Germany. In 1947-49, some of the frescoes returned to the Saint Sophia Museum, but many fragments of frescoes ended up in Moscow, Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg), and Novgorod.
A small part of the frescoes remained in Kyiv and were exhibited in the Saint Sophia Cathedral, which was turned into a museum. During World War II, the treasures of Saint Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery, including the mosaic and twenty-seven frescoes, were looted and taken to Germany. In 1947-49, some of the frescoes returned to the Saint Sophia Museum, but many fragments of frescoes ended up in Moscow, Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg), and Novgorod.A small part of the frescoes remained in Kyiv and were exhibited in the Saint Sophia Cathedral, which was turned into a museum. During World War II, the treasures of Saint Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery, including the mosaic and twenty-seven frescoes, were looted and taken to Germany. In 1947-49, some of the frescoes returned to the Saint Sophia Museum, but many fragments of frescoes ended up in Moscow, Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg), and Novgorod.
installation sketch
The installation Performing Memory depicts a devastated landscape of Ukrainian cultural heritage, consisting of blocks representing artworks. The work that were looted from Ukraine are represented in a series of hollowed out sculptures, based on the dimensions of looted paintings and cultural artifacts. These blocks and volumes are used to create a model of a potential museum of Ukraine’s heritage.By documenting potential scenarios of future art history, this proposed model formalizes the lost cultural landscape.
Besides the artifacts taken out during the Soviet period, the installation also includes works that were looted in the autumn of 2022 from the collection of the Kherson Regional Art Museum suffered. Key pieces for the cultural identity of Ukrainians, such as the folk icon Christ the Winegrower, described in the museum’s collection as Communion and painted by an unknown artist from Cherkasy Oblast, were taken to Crimea. The looted collection of the Kherson museum collection includes famous works by Ivan Aivazovsky, Ivan Kramskoy, Peter Lely, August von Bayer, Vasily Polenov, Mikhail Shibanov, Mikhail Vrubel, Pavel Gavryluk, and thousands of other pieces.
Numerous cultural institutions were affected by the armed conflict, such as the Kharkiv Art Museum, the Kharkiv State Scientific Library named after Korolenko, the Kharkiv Theater of Opera and Ballet named after Lysenko, the Chernihiv Oblast Art Museum, the Mariupol Local Lore Museum, the Memorial House of Hryhoriy Skovoroda, the Sumska Theological Seminary, the Sviatohirsk Lavra, the Vorontsov Palace in Odessa, and many others. The volumes of destruction have catastrophically increased with each passing day.
Besides the artifacts taken out during the Soviet period, the installation also includes works that were looted in the autumn of 2022 from the collection of the Kherson Regional Art Museum suffered. Key pieces for the cultural identity of Ukrainians, such as the folk icon Christ the Winegrower, described in the museum’s collection as Communion and painted by an unknown artist from Cherkasy Oblast, were taken to Crimea. The looted collection of the Kherson museum collection includes famous works by Ivan Aivazovsky, Ivan Kramskoy, Peter Lely, August von Bayer, Vasily Polenov, Mikhail Shibanov, Mikhail Vrubel, Pavel Gavryluk, and thousands of other pieces.
Numerous cultural institutions were affected by the armed conflict, such as the Kharkiv Art Museum, the Kharkiv State Scientific Library named after Korolenko, the Kharkiv Theater of Opera and Ballet named after Lysenko, the Chernihiv Oblast Art Museum, the Mariupol Local Lore Museum, the Memorial House of Hryhoriy Skovoroda, the Sumska Theological Seminary, the Sviatohirsk Lavra, the Vorontsov Palace in Odessa, and many others. The volumes of destruction have catastrophically increased with each passing day.
BLOCKS (TITLE)
2/3
1 Dmitry Solunsky
Сirca 1112
Limestone, smalt, brick, colored stone, marble, mosaic
Collection State Tretyakov Gallery. Moscow
Limestone, smalt, brick, colored stone, marble, mosaic.
The mosaic was located under the eastern arch of the main nave of the Church of St. Michael (about 1108-1113) of the St. Michael’s Golden-Domed (Dmitrovsky) Monastery in Kyiv.
Block size: 1325 x 2230 x 250 mm
Limestone, smalt, brick, colored stone, marble, mosaic
Collection State Tretyakov Gallery. Moscow
Limestone, smalt, brick, colored stone, marble, mosaic.
The mosaic was located under the eastern arch of the main nave of the Church of St. Michael (about 1108-1113) of the St. Michael’s Golden-Domed (Dmitrovsky) Monastery in Kyiv.
Block size: 1325 x 2230 x 250 mm
2 Two horsemen
Сirca 1062
Collection State Tretyakov Gallery. Moscow
«Two Horsemen» («Nestor and Dmitry»), slate. Relief from the facade of the Cathedral of St. Michael’s Monastery in Kyiv. XI century (c. 1062), State Tretyakov Gallery. Since the Church of the Archangel Michael was destroyed in the 1930s, the mosaics and frescoes were removed from the walls by Professor V.A. Frolov and some of them entered the State Tretyakov Gallery in 1938.
Block size: 2260 x 1180 x 400 mm
Collection State Tretyakov Gallery. Moscow
«Two Horsemen» («Nestor and Dmitry»), slate. Relief from the facade of the Cathedral of St. Michael’s Monastery in Kyiv. XI century (c. 1062), State Tretyakov Gallery. Since the Church of the Archangel Michael was destroyed in the 1930s, the mosaics and frescoes were removed from the walls by Professor V.A. Frolov and some of them entered the State Tretyakov Gallery in 1938.
Block size: 2260 x 1180 x 400 mm
3 The Prophet Samuel
XII century
Stucco, fresco
Russian Museum. Saint Petersburg
St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery is a monastery in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, dedicated to Michael the Archangel
Block size: 1320 x 1000 x 150 mm
Stucco, fresco
Russian Museum. Saint Petersburg
St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery is a monastery in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, dedicated to Michael the Archangel
Block size: 1320 x 1000 x 150 mm
4.1, 4.2 Scythian gold case
In temporary storage at the Allard Pierson Museum in Amsterdam
Block size: 3000 x 800 x 500 mm
Block size: 3000 x 800 x 500 mm
5 Christ the Winemaker
The middle of the 19th century
Oil on canvas.
Kherson Regional Art Museum named after Oleksii Shovkunenko. Kherson
One of the works taken out of the Kherson Regional Art Museum is Christ the Winemaker. (The middle of the 19th century. Oil on canvas. 65 x 112 cm). The painting of folk icon Christ the Winemaker, which according to documents entered the museum collection under the name Communion, was probably created in Cherkasy region. This image reveals the meaning of the Sacrament of the Church - the Eucharist (Communion). The smiling faces of Christ, angels and saints are imbued with a soft soul, radiating kindness and love.
Block size: 1120 x650x200 mm
Oil on canvas.
Kherson Regional Art Museum named after Oleksii Shovkunenko. Kherson
One of the works taken out of the Kherson Regional Art Museum is Christ the Winemaker. (The middle of the 19th century. Oil on canvas. 65 x 112 cm). The painting of folk icon Christ the Winemaker, which according to documents entered the museum collection under the name Communion, was probably created in Cherkasy region. This image reveals the meaning of the Sacrament of the Church - the Eucharist (Communion). The smiling faces of Christ, angels and saints are imbued with a soft soul, radiating kindness and love.
Block size: 1120 x650x200 mm
6 By the fireplace. Ivan Kramskoi
Oil on canvas.
Kherson Regional Art Museum named after Oleksii Shovkunenko. Kherson
A collection of paintings from the Oleksii Shovkunenko Art Museum in the capital of the region of Kherson have been removed and transferred to a museum in Crimea, according to the museum authorities.
Block size: 610х480х150 мм
Kherson Regional Art Museum named after Oleksii Shovkunenko. Kherson
A collection of paintings from the Oleksii Shovkunenko Art Museum in the capital of the region of Kherson have been removed and transferred to a museum in Crimea, according to the museum authorities.
Block size: 610х480х150 мм
7.1, 7.2, 7.3 Frescoes of St. Michael’s Zlatoversky Cathedral in Kiev
Collection State Tretyakov Gallery. Moscow
Block size: 2440 x 90 x 350 mm
Block size: 2440 x 90 x 350 mm
3/3
Installation. 2023
installation images
