ARTVILNIUS’2022
Vitrazh-AT
EXHIBITION THE PATH | TAKAS
Materials:
The number of objects depends on the place of exhibit, approximately dimensions of installation: slumped glass, mirrored coating, natural stones
The installation is a series of the mirror objects which are the exact replica of anti-riot shield Vitrazh-AT* in scale 1:1.
When the viewer sees their reflection in the mirror shields, they can identify themselves as participant of the protests in opposition to the chain of the Special Forces fighters.
During the performance at the opening of the project the viewer was acting as an artist. They transformed the Vitrazh-AT* into Vitrazh** as piece of art throwing the stones and smashing the shields.
However the broken mirror is probably the focus of more superstitions than any other subject in the world is.
* Vitrazh-AT (Витраж-АТ) – Russian OMON (SWAT) police anti-riot shockproof metal shield. This shield is used for body protection against of hitting by stones, bottles, etc. It is mostly used on the post-soviet area (Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, etc.)
** Vitrazh (Витраж) – stained glass, monumental art, works created from the pieces of glass or mirror. The project “Vitrazh-AT” was selected to the short-list of the Republican competition “National Arts Award” in 2019-2020 in the category “Contemporary Art”.
The administration of the competition recalled the project from the competition the day before the exhibition opening due to “to avoid the possible provocations before the upcoming presidential elections in the Republic of Belarus in 2020”.