Gallery «180 m²». 2013. «Aura of Moor»
Mockumentary project of Greta Dimaris at the 5th Moscow Biennale of contemporary art.
The starting point of the project became a real story that happened in London in the early 2000s. From the library of the British Museum vanished one remarkable artefact › the chair on which Karl Marx (party nickname Moor) was sitting almost 30 years while working on his «Capital». The chair was well-known among Marx fans and was a sort of nonformal touristic exhibit, but when the library’s archives were moved during the rastavration, all the furniture was simply thrown out, including the Marx’s chair…
In the course of the project «were found» 12 (yes, 12 — there is a reference to Ilf and Petrov comedy novell) chairs of Marx. They were exhibited in the gallery along with «documentary» evidence of their authenticity. In addition to the installation were presented painting and other art objects, the opening and closing of the exhibition took place in the form of happening.
To take part in the show Greta invited well-known russian artist Herman Vinogradov, who played the role of the spirit of Marx and made a performance — according to a pre-agreed scenario but for sure with improvisation. Performance made at the opening was documented, and this video immediately was included in the exhibition.
Interactive approach and visibility of the artistic process allowed the audience to feel involved, to feel myth-makers and creators themselves.
Greta thanks volunteers who helped with the installation of the exhibition: Eugenia Larkina, Dmitry Kadyrov, Anna Vysotina, Maria Slobodskaya, and Polina Fractall for video shooting
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