Topos
  • Menu
  • Currents
  • Projects
  • Reviews
  • Competitions
  • Cities
  • Special Issue
  • Shop
  • E-Paper

Topos

The Area between Fact and Fiction

by Svenja Binz
14.02.201914.02.2019
< Go to blog overview
  • Currents

A timeless atmosphere defines the dreamlike setting, located somewhere in a rural landscape in Russia. The ruins of a church emerge like landmarks on the horizon. Sprawling vegetation has gradually overgrown the fragmented remains of the building. However, there is more to see: the appearance of this derelict church is complemented by abstract modernist forms. A large area painted black marks one of the façades of the church and renders the actual composition of materials and forms illegible. Yet another intervention includes various three-dimensional black spheres that seem to hover weightlessly above the neglected remains of the building.

  • Monuments Russia Danila Tkachenko
     

    Various three-dimensional black spheres hover weightlessly above the neglected remains of the building. © Danila Tkachenko

  • Monuments Russia Danila Tkachenko
     

    The familiar onion dome is characteristic of Russian Orthodox churches. © Danila Tkachenko

  • Monuments Russia Danila Tkachenko
     

    A large area painted black makes the actual composition of material and form illegible. © Danila Tkachenko

  • Monuments Russia Danila Tkachenko
     

    In MONUMENTS artist Danila Tkachenko appropriates former orthodox churches that were abandoned during the Russian Revolution in 1917. © Danila Tkachenko

These lightweight structures were created by Russia-based visual artist Danila Tkachenko. In his most recent project titled MONUMENTS, Tkachenko artistically appropriates various former orthodox churches that were abandoned during the Russian Revolution in 1917.

At the end of the 16th century, the Russian Orthodox Church founded its own patriarchate in Moscow. However, when the Communists took power in 1917, religion was declared an enemy of the state. Of the nearly 80,000 Orthodox communities that still existed in 1917, only about 3,000 remained thirty years later. Today, the separation of church and state has been laid down in the Russian constitution of 1993. The reality, however, often seems to be the opposite. For instance, in the year 2000 Vladimir Putin’s election as president was celebrated in a church ceremony.

  • Monuments Russia Danila Tkachenko
     

  • Monuments Russia Danila Tkachenko
     

  • Monuments Russia Danila Tkachenko
     

  • Monuments Russia Danila Tkachenko
     

    All Images: © Danila Tkachenko

“We come up with new interpretations and build additional structures to manipulate images of past history”

Especially in relation to political regimes, the artist Tkachenko points out that “every single one of us is individually inclined to exploit images of the past for the sake of our current needs or future goals.” For this purpose, according to Tkachenko, we design “new interpretations” and build “additional structures to manipulate images of past history.” For MONUMENTS, Tkachenko makes the process of appropriating historical images visually and physically perceptible. By concealing, supplementing or altering the ruins of Orthodox churches, he manipulates their image. By doing so, he asks how a society perceives its historical heritage. Tkachenko calls this undefined space the “area between fact and fiction”.

With MONUMENTS, Tkachenko shows that an artistic interaction with historical heritage is one possible way of becoming witness to historic events. For his project, he approaches abandoned Orthodox churches in a sensitive way as existing testimonies of Russia‘s multi-layered history and identity.

Previous
article

Futuristic vistas and cosmic technoscapes: Perry Rhodan Vol. 3000

next
article

South London’s Super-Diverse Streets


You may
also like ...

Show more

  • Nike’s Church Renovation

  • Competition for Zaryadye Park

  • The Montréal Loop


Newsletter jetzt abonnieren
  • facebook
Back to top

by Topos

Follow Us

  • Like

OUR NEWSLETTER

Stay up to date!

Subscribe now
  • Menu
  • Advertise
  • Annual Directory
  • Contact
  • GTC
  • Imprint
  • Privacy policy
DON’T MISS OUT!
Subscribe to our newsletter
Look forward to topical trends, surveys, projects, free-of-charge reading samples and special offers!
Stay Updated
Give it a try, you can unsubscribe anytime.

The sending of the newsletter is effected in accordance with our privacy policy.
close-link
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.