Shcherbenko Art Centre

TRAMPOLINE OR SOCIALLY CRITICAL VOYEURISM

The work reflects many situations in the sociopolitical system where government officials often abuse the power entrusted to them, for example, using state property as their advantage. Therefore, it is not surprising that such behavior causes indignation among people and interest in the things hidden behind the high fences of these officials. Therefore, in the project “Trampoline or Socially Critical Voyeurism”, the artist invites viewers to indicate over whose fences they would like to look with a trampoline installed near the fence to be able to explore the desired area without violating the boundaries of private property.

In this regard, the trampoline (from French is “blow”), presented in the exhibition space, symbolizes the collision of a man with a machine of power and the subsequent traumatic experience similar to a blow to the head when jumping on a trampoline in a room with a low ceiling. The exposition also includes “soft fences” imitating concrete slabs of the PO-2 fence, similar to those used in the USSR. Just like any fence has a protective function, Galkin makes them out of foam, thus emphasizing the aesthetics of the soft walls of psychiatric institutions.

Based on this, the work demonstrates a method of manipulating society, which in these conditions consciously limits itself to a comfort zone. This method does not have a concrete base behind a soft front surface, which also has a protective function, but only in the traditions of the penitentiary system.