Dead space and ruins

At Calvert 22, London, four artists working with film and photography present the decaying architectural reminiscence of the Soviet vision.  

“Dead space and ruins” is the second instalment of the Calvert 22 Foundation’s “Power and Architecture” exhibition programme. Running until 9 October 2016 with four interconnected parts, the exhibition explores multiple facets of architecture’s relationship to power with new and existing work by artists from across the New East region.

Eric Lusito, Mig-21, 126th Fighter Aviation Regiment, Mongolia, from <i>Traces of the Soviet Empire</i> series, 2009
Eric Lusito, Site 120, 44th Mixed Air Corps, Mongolia, from <i>Traces of the Soviet Empire</i> series, 2009
Eric Lusito, Site 120, 44th Mixed Air Corps, Mongolia, from <i>Traces of the Soviet Empire</i> series, 2009
Eric Lusito, Victory starts here!, 129th Independent Radar Center of Early Detection, Latvia, from <i>Traces of the Soviet Empire</i> series, 2009

  In “Dead space and ruins”, four artists working with film and photography present the decaying architectural reminiscence of the Soviet vision. With work taking inspiration from across the vast landscape of the former Soviet Union, these artists explore the “dead space” left in the wake of the quest for progress.

Danila Tkachenko, <i>Restricted Areas</i> series
Danila Tkachenko, <i>Restricted Areas</i> series
Danila Tkachenko, <i>Restricted Areas</i> series
Danila Tkachenko, <i>Restricted Areas</i> series
Danila Tkachenko, <i>Restricted Areas</i> series
Danila Tkachenko, <i>Restricted Areas</i> series
Danila Tkachenko, <i>Restricted Areas</i> series

  Eric Lusito’s series, Traces of the Soviet Empire, maps the militaristic power of the former USSR through images of haunting ruins of former army bases, monuments and equipment. Danila Tkachenko’s Restricted Areas series captures brutalist ruins decomposing in the frozen tundra, while Vahram Agasian’s haunting Ghost City documents former towns and once-powerful buildings now lying empty and abandoned to the mercy of time and the forces of nature.

Vahram Agasian, <i>Ghost City</i>, 2005-2007
Vahram Agasian, <i>Ghost City</i>, 2005-2007
Vahram Agasian, <i>Ghost City</i>, 2005-2007
Vahram Agasian, <i>Ghost City</i>, 2005-2007
Vahram Agasian, <i>Ghost City</i>, 2005-2007
Vahram Agasian, <i>Ghost City</i>, 2005-2007

  Anton Ginzburg’s film Turo investigates post-Soviet geography and icons of constructivist architecture. The four chapters of the film explore different landmarks of Soviet modernism such as the Narkomfin building and the ruins of Pripyat while proposing alternate futures for these and other settings through virtual, video game-like environments.


until 7 August 2016
Dead space and ruins
Calvert 22
22 Calvert Avenue, London