MoMA.org | Interactives | Projects | 1998 | InterNyet

14 DISPATCH:

July 20, 1998

Curator Soloviov
Ten years ago, OLEXANDR SOLOVIOV was a critic living in a squat among artists. Soloviov recalls that when there was no more worthwhile art to critique, he metamorphosed into a curator.

Soloviov emphasizes that he directs artists, but does not dictate to them. In organizing an exhibition, he may tell an artist: "No Postmodernism, Postmodernism is finished." He would curb an artist who used obvious appropriation, but otherwise he is open to their creativity.

Soloviov's recent effort, Intermedia (1998), features the installations of nine artists, spliced together with a battery of TVs playing everyday soaps. Though many artists scorn the mass media, Soloviov insists that art must bite the bullet and embrace mass culture.
Video documentation of Olexander Hnilitsky's Work-in-Progress,
an Intermedia installation
(0:29 min. RealVideo clip)
Work-in-Progress
(video still)
In Intermedia--between the media--Soloviov has created a supra-installation that integrates art and mass culture.

Artist Chepelyk At the time the first Ukrainian astronaut rocketed into space aboard a NASA shuttle, artist ORSANA CHEPELYK lived in Baltimore, the recipient of an Artslink grant. She wished to toast the astronaut and NASA for bringing her closer to home. Chepelyk fashioned a "yellow" submarine, which she transported to an old sub in the Baltimore harbor.
The symbolism is a bit obscure, but the sailors welcomed the friendly gesture.
Chepelyk with sub
Inevitable Obvious (video still)

During the same grant period, the artist produced Inevitable Obvious (1998), a video of ten Americans and ten Ukrainians describing their first sexual adventure.
Inevitable Obvious
(1:41 min. RealVideo clip)

Curator Soloviov	Ten years ago, OLEXANDR SOLOVIOV was a critic living in a squat among artists. Soloviov recalls that when there was no more worthwhile art to critique, he metamorphosed into a curator.
Soloviov emphasizes that he directs artists, but does not dictate to them. In organizing an exhibition, he may tell an artist: "No Postmodernism, Postmodernism is finished." He would curb an artist who used obvious appropriation, but otherwise he is open to their creativity.

Soloviov's recent effort, Intermedia (1998), features the installations of nine artists, spliced together with a battery of TVs playing everyday soaps. Though many artists scorn the mass media, Soloviov insists that art must bite the bullet and embrace mass culture. Video documentation of Olexander Hnilitsky's Work-in-Progress, an Intermedia installation (0:29 min. RealVideo clip)	Work-in-Progress (video still)
In Intermedia--between the media--Soloviov has created a supra-installation that integrates art and mass culture.
Artist Chepelyk	At the time the first Ukrainian astronaut rocketed into space aboard a NASA shuttle, artist ORSANA CHEPELYK lived in Baltimore, the recipient of an Artslink grant. She wished to toast the astronaut and NASA for bringing her closer to home. Chepelyk fashioned a "yellow" submarine, which she transported to an old sub in the Baltimore harbor.
The symbolism is a bit obscure, but the sailors welcomed the friendly gesture.	Chepelyk with sub
Inevitable Obvious (video still)	During the same grant period, the artist produced Inevitable Obvious (1998), a video of ten Americans and ten Ukrainians describing their first sexual adventure. Inevitable Obvious (1:41 min. RealVideo clip)