In Dnipro, 95 kilometres from the front line, the Dnipro Art Museum has unveiled the installation Red River. Around 250 metres of lace now adorn the building’s halls.
Source: artist Valerii Kuznietsov
Details: The work was created by artist Valerii Kuznietsov, together with his wife Kateryna Kuznietsova, Artem Maliutin and Tetiana Shchedrova.
In a comment to UP.Kultura, the artist explained that he had finished the piece back on 5 July but only now decided to reveal it. The impulse came after news of negotiations between US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Alaska, where a red carpet had been rolled out for the latter. That was when Valerii resolved to present his work to the world.
“The work has become a living artery, wrapping around the stairs and walls, addressing themes of war, memory, blood, and loss,” wrote Valerii.
The installation is made of ethylene-vinyl acetate, a flexible synthetic material and a by-product of shoe manufacturing.
The artist noted that this material resembles modelling clay. Owing to the use of vinyl ties, the installation appears spiky.
“That also adds meaning. We created something that brings to mind our [Ukrainian] traditional patterns. But we also wanted to convey, in this mass, that it is blood taking on the shapes of ornaments. And I’m very glad we presented this project in an art museum, because our work harmonises with the pieces currently on display there,” said Valerii.
Red River installation
Photo: Oleh Samoilenko
He added that in Dnipro, just 95 kilometres from the frontline, the installation becomes both a physical and emotional response to the unfolding events. The red, mesh-like structure evokes “the vulnerability of the human body, traditional cultural ornaments, and the creeping shadow of violence”.
The project continues a long-term exploration of this material, which the artists have been working with since 2008.
Among future plans, Valerii would like to make the river even longer and present the work in other cities.
Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
