Ce n'est pas de l'art

Andrei Kovaltšuk (b. 1959): Meeting in Turku (2012)

  If you were a little boy in late 1970s or early 80s like me, you might remember those unicolour small plastic toy soldiers. I had some US Marines and Afrika Korps. Blanket or sand become a battlefield. 

 When you look at this sculpture group, those little plastic soldiers come in mind, albeit in life-size. Their postures and physical appearances are aesthetically rigid, maybe too athletic. Just like some mannequins set for some display, "buy some early 1810s elite uniforms, on sale now". 

 Im not going to get too deep on history behind this group. Basically it's just meeting of King of Sweden (French) and Emperor of Russia (more Prussian than a Russian), held in Turku in 1812. Statue was commemorating the meeting, and was ordered by local Russian consulate and City of Turku. Residents opinion was not asked. 

One year after this was revealed, another work by this artist was presented in Kostamus, and this time it was about another meeting, this time between Aleksei Kosygin and Urho Kekkonen. And that is more horrible than the statue in Turku.

 And finally, what makes these objects as non-art, is their lifelessness. They are lacking that something that makes art, thus making them as those little plastic toy soldiers. Just like some figures to set on some position. They are still echoing some ill Soviet-nostalgia, heroic looking land workers rising the scythe and hammer towards the setting sun. If this is art, then we were artist when we were playing those little plastic soldiers.

Andrei Kovalchuck 

  
 

They Were Here - And thus I was there

It is about - 15° C and wind makes it more harsher. Sun is descending on southeast and i'm ascending to Puolala-Hill in Turku. Then i'm suddenly in a park, surrounded by fluorescent ghosts. A 19th century couple stands by the path a small dog standing vigilant at their feet. An amorette is flying above, aiming an arrow to some young elegantly dressed, early 19th century damselle, another volant figure, an angel is blowing a horn. There are some children playing around the park. No matter how much I try to use words to describe this exhibition is not enough, and no matter how I set my camera, change lenses from 50mm to wider 24mm, it is still not enough. This is a 3D-experience with sound, you have to be walking amidst of these spectres of the past. 

The artist, Alexander Reicstein explains it better, how They Were Here

brings former residents of any historical place to life. I think people never truly disappear without a trace: we can still hear words, steps and even breaths taken from long ago. Persons from the past wander in the park, meet each other in the street and enjoy fresh air on the balcony.

Alexander Reichstein

They Were Here