These interconnected courtyards and alleyways of St Petersburg are hidden spaces serving multiple social functions. Parking lot, green-space, playground, and setting for random encounters with one's neighbor
These interconnected courtyards and alleyways of St Petersburg are hidden spaces serving multiple social functions. Parking lot, green-space, playground, and setting for random encounters with one's neighbor
For this installation I extracted two narratives from Gogol’s famous short story, Nevsky Prospect. Both narratives detail two men’s pursuit of women encountered while strolling together on the busy and storied thoroughfare of the title.
For this installation I extracted two narratives from Gogol’s famous short story, Nevsky Prospect. Both narratives detail two men’s pursuit of women encountered while strolling together on the busy and storied thoroughfare of the title.
Each narrative is told in brief passages culled directly from Gogol’s original Russian text.
Each narrative is told in brief passages culled directly from Gogol’s original Russian text.
The dreamy Piskarev’s story uses an internal voice and his texts are justified to the left, while the brash Pirogov’s is told entirely in spoken dialogue and is justified to the right.
The dreamy Piskarev’s story uses an internal voice and his texts are justified to the left, while the brash Pirogov’s is told entirely in spoken dialogue and is justified to the right.
Piskarev is a young, romantic painter who overly idealizes his dark-haired quarry. He feels his attentions are completely innocent and chaste. When she leads him to a brothel and offers her services, he is shocked by her true nature and flees.
Piskarev is a young, romantic painter who overly idealizes his dark-haired quarry. He feels his attentions are completely innocent and chaste. When she leads him to a brothel and offers her services, he is shocked by her true nature and flees.
Lieutenant Pirogov, crude and pragmatic, is Piskarev's foil.
Lieutenant Pirogov, crude and pragmatic, is Piskarev's foil.
Pirogov follows a blonde woman, the wife of a German tinsmith. He attempts to seduce the woman, but is caught with the woman in his arms and beaten.
Pirogov follows a blonde woman, the wife of a German tinsmith. He attempts to seduce the woman, but is caught with the woman in his arms and beaten.
Pirogov follows a blonde woman, the wife of a German tinsmith. He attempts to seduce the woman, but is caught with the woman in his arms and beaten.
Initially furious and determined to seek revenge, he is quickly mollified by simple pleasures and distractions and forgets the whole incident
Initially furious and determined to seek revenge, he is quickly mollified by simple pleasures and distractions and forgets the whole incident
Initially furious and determined to seek revenge, he is quickly mollified by simple pleasures and distractions and forgets the whole incident
The men are together at the story’s beginning but part ways to follow their respective quarries. As the two stories diverge, so too do the chalk texts: Piskerev in one direction, Pirogev in another.
The men are together at the story’s beginning but part ways to follow their respective quarries. As the two stories diverge, so too do the chalk texts: Piskerev in one direction, Pirogev in another.
In the labyrinth of the courtyards, the narratives separate, reunite and separate again.
In the labyrinth of the courtyards, the narratives separate, reunite and separate again.
Initially legible, the texts encouraged deeper exploration of these semi-private spaces.
Initially legible, the texts encouraged deeper exploration of these semi-private spaces.
Foot traffic and passing cars spread and smear the chalk, gradually wearing away each drawing until it became a series of purely visual forms.
Most completely disappeared after the first rain.
Foot traffic and passing cars spread and smear the chalk, gradually wearing away each drawing until it became a series of purely visual forms.
Most completely disappeared after the first rain.
The installation was originally conceived for a small park with crisscrossing diagonal paths where the two narratives would directly and regularly intertwine. But permission to use this park by any artist in the festival was rescinded at the last moment by city officials fearful of political provocations.
The installation was originally conceived for a small park with crisscrossing diagonal paths where the two narratives would directly and regularly intertwine. But permission to use this park by any artist in the festival was rescinded at the last moment by city officials fearful of political provocations.
Special thanks to CEC Artslink, especially Susan Katz, Vitya Melkov, Nastya Tolstaya and Andrei.
And thanks to
Ed Woodham
for getting it all started.
Special thanks to CEC Artslink, especially Susan Katz, Vitya Melkov, Nastya Tolstaya and Andrei.
And thanks to
Ed Woodham
for getting it all started.
And a very special thank you to my wonderful assistants, who made the installation so much better by the great suggestions. Your hard work is much appreciated. Thanks Elena Orlova and Genia
And a very special thank you to my wonderful assistants, who made the installation so much better by the great suggestions. Your hard work is much appreciated. Thanks Elena Orlova and Genia
◄
►
Nevsky Prospekt
30 white chalk texts
in the courtyards and alleys of Saint Petersburg
2012
part of
CEC ArtLink's
Art Prospect Festival,
a series of public art installations and performances
►
◄
These interconnected courtyards and alleyways of St Petersburg are hidden spaces serving multiple social functions. Parking lot, green-space, playground, and setting for random encounters with one's neighbor
These interconnected courtyards and alleyways of St Petersburg are hidden spaces serving multiple social functions. Parking lot, green-space, playground, and setting for random encounters with one's neighbor
For this installation I extracted two narratives from Gogol’s famous short story, Nevsky Prospect. Both narratives detail two men’s pursuit of women encountered while strolling together on the busy and storied thoroughfare of the title.
For this installation I extracted two narratives from Gogol’s famous short story, Nevsky Prospect. Both narratives detail two men’s pursuit of women encountered while strolling together on the busy and storied thoroughfare of the title.
Each narrative is told in brief passages culled directly from Gogol’s original Russian text.
Each narrative is told in brief passages culled directly from Gogol’s original Russian text.
The dreamy Piskarev’s story uses an internal voice and his texts are justified to the left, while the brash Pirogov’s is told entirely in spoken dialogue and is justified to the right.
The dreamy Piskarev’s story uses an internal voice and his texts are justified to the left, while the brash Pirogov’s is told entirely in spoken dialogue and is justified to the right.
Piskarev is a young, romantic painter who overly idealizes his dark-haired quarry. He feels his attentions are completely innocent and chaste. When she leads him to a brothel and offers her services, he is shocked by her true nature and flees.
Piskarev is a young, romantic painter who overly idealizes his dark-haired quarry. He feels his attentions are completely innocent and chaste. When she leads him to a brothel and offers her services, he is shocked by her true nature and flees.
Lieutenant Pirogov, crude and pragmatic, is Piskarev's foil.
Lieutenant Pirogov, crude and pragmatic, is Piskarev's foil.
Pirogov follows a blonde woman, the wife of a German tinsmith. He attempts to seduce the woman, but is caught with the woman in his arms and beaten.
Pirogov follows a blonde woman, the wife of a German tinsmith. He attempts to seduce the woman, but is caught with the woman in his arms and beaten.
Pirogov follows a blonde woman, the wife of a German tinsmith. He attempts to seduce the woman, but is caught with the woman in his arms and beaten.
Initially furious and determined to seek revenge, he is quickly mollified by simple pleasures and distractions and forgets the whole incident
Initially furious and determined to seek revenge, he is quickly mollified by simple pleasures and distractions and forgets the whole incident
The men are together at the story’s beginning but part ways to follow their respective quarries. As the two stories diverge, so too do the chalk texts: Piskerev in one direction, Pirogev in another.
The men are together at the story’s beginning but part ways to follow their respective quarries. As the two stories diverge, so too do the chalk texts: Piskerev in one direction, Pirogev in another.
The men are together at the story’s beginning but part ways to follow their respective quarries. As the two stories diverge, so too do the chalk texts: Piskerev in one direction, Pirogev in another.
In the labyrinth of the courtyards, the narratives separate, reunite and separate again.
In the labyrinth of the courtyards, the narratives separate, reunite and separate again.
Initially legible, the texts encouraged deeper exploration of these semi-private spaces.
Initially legible, the texts encouraged deeper exploration of these semi-private spaces.
Foot traffic and passing cars spread and smear the chalk, gradually wearing away each drawing until it became a series of purely visual forms.
Most completely disappeared after the first rain.
Foot traffic and passing cars spread and smear the chalk, gradually wearing away each drawing until it became a series of purely visual forms.
Most completely disappeared after the first rain.
Foot traffic and passing cars spread and smear the chalk, gradually wearing away each drawing until it became a series of purely visual forms.
Most completely disappeared after the first rain.
The installation was originally conceived for a small park with crisscrossing diagonal paths where the two narratives would directly and regularly intertwine. But permission to use this park by any artist in the festival was rescinded at the last moment by city officials fearful of political provocations.
The installation was originally conceived for a small park with crisscrossing diagonal paths where the two narratives would directly and regularly intertwine. But permission to use this park by any artist in the festival was rescinded at the last moment by city officials fearful of political provocations.
Special thanks to CEC Artslink, especially Susan Katz, Vitya Melkov, Nastya Tolstaya and Andrei.
And thanks to
Ed Woodham
for getting it all started.
Special thanks to CEC Artslink, especially Susan Katz, Vitya Melkov, Nastya Tolstaya and Andrei.
And thanks to
Ed Woodham
for getting it all started.
And a very special thank you to my wonderful assistants, who made the installation so much better by the great suggestions. Your hard work is much appreciated. Thanks Elena Orlova and Genia
Nevsky Prospekt
30 white chalk texts in the courtyards and alleys of Saint Petersburg, 2012
part of CEC ArtLink's Art Prospect Festival, a series of public art installations and performances