"Mountain of Gold" / action
"Mountain of Gold" / actionThe destruction of the mountains, buildings protected area cabins, provokes inevitability of social conflict and forcing artists to express cultural protest.
May 19, 2011the city of Kiev, the mountain SchekavitsaArtists: Varvarov A., Gomolsky I., Zaichenko V., Konovalov I., A. Krasnoshchekov A. , Padun V., Potapenkov E.
The destruction of the mountain and the encroachment of private development upon this protected zone precipitate an inevitable social conflict, compelling artists to articulate a cultural protest.
Artists who have maintained studios on Mount Shchekavytsia since the late 1980s gained prominence through the emergence of the Olegivska Street squat—a locus that defined the artistic practices of groups such as "Kholodny VEL" and the "Fictitious Gallery Expedition" (FGE). Subsequently, these artists have frequently exhibited their painting projects at the RA Gallery in Kyiv.
The Golden Mountains art project underscores the cultural significance of Mount Shchekavytsia within the Kyivan landscape. Delving into mythological strata featuring the legendary Zmey Gorynych (the Slavic Dragon), juxtaposed with surrounding Christian and Muslim shrines, the project reveals the idiosyncratic and authentic character of this cultural space—one without analogue in other European capitals. The repeated artistic interventions staged by the Olegivska Street artists on Kyiv’s hills allow us to postulate a distinct offshoot of land art: "hill-art."
The "Gold" in the project’s title, functioning as a signifier of value, carries a dual subtext. The precious metal denotes Mount Shchekavytsia’s importance as a historical and cultural site, while simultaneously referencing the material "valuation" of the mountain in the ongoing battle for real estate acreage.
In revealing the distinctiveness of the local topography, the artists mark the space of the hill with concentric target circles, "gold" nuggets, and avatars of the participants (I. Konovalov, A. Varvarov, V. Zaichenko, A. Krasnoshchekov, V. Padun, E. Potapenkov, I. Gamolsky). The silhouette of Zmey Gorynych evokes an atmosphere of legendary antiquity; the circles define a focal point visible from a bird's-eye view; and the guardian avatars are summoned to uphold the enduring value of Mount Shchekavytsia.
The destruction of the mountain and the encroachment of private development upon this protected zone precipitate an inevitable social conflict, compelling artists to articulate a cultural protest.
Konovalova Oliga, kand. suit.