museum of non-imaginary stories 2023
Photograph: Anastasia Korostelkina
about
museum of non-imaginary stories presents the works of Russian-speaking dissident artists compelled to settle in France following the onset of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. One and a half years into the conflict, they have transitioned from a state of shock to a compelling need to share today, with the audiences in their host country, their sensitive visions and personal experiences of the tragic context into which they were involuntarily immersed. The exhibition brings together artists from different generations and artistic disciplines—dramaturgy, video, sound installation, and performance—united by their disagreement with the policies of the current Russian regime. Curated by a duo of commissioners, the museum of non-imaginary stories presents the works of nine artists and visual or sound creators who collaborated during a three-month residency at the TNG.
“
This is the essence of international cooperation in times of geopolitical crisis. It is also our role to seek to preserve freedom of expression wherever it is threatened. We hope that the free speech and testimonies of these artists will not only allow these political exiles to resume their artistic work but also enable them to express their solidarity with the Ukrainian people. Beyond the unspeakable, the irreparable, and the irreconcilable, behind the decisions and actions of certain criminal heads of state, there are always individuals, independent and capable, on their own scale, of defending the universal values of Humanism. Ultimately, it is in these small acts of resistance that hope resides.
— prefrace by Joris Mathieu, director Théâtre Nouvelle Génération — CDN Lyon
credits
Curation and conception:
Artem Arsenian
Nika Parkhomovskaia
Visual and sound space:
Eldar Karkhalev
Ksenia Marokkanskaya
Daniil Koronkevich
Graphic design studio Holystick
Artists:
Alexandra Poldi
Vika Privalova
Esther Bol
Georges Bogachev
Alexey Nadzharov
Shamil Shaaev
With participation of:
Marion Talotti
Vincent Hermano
Production:
Théâtre Nouvelle Génération — Centre dramatique national de Lyon
In the framework of Festival Sens Interdits
With support of:
Institut Français
National emergency reception program for scientists and artists in exile “PAUSE” (France)
Ministry of Culture of the Republic of France
In partnership with
Resistance theatre platform
Photograph: Anastasia Korostelkina
Photograph: Anastasia Korostelkina
Photograph: Anastasia Korostelkina
Photograph: Anastasia Korostelkina