Russia’s occupation of Georgian land highlighted in new ‘Crawling Border …
The installation is hosted by Izolyatsia, a Ukrainian cultural platform forced to flee from Donetsk
Barbed wire, broken childhoods and subliminal messages – challenges of some Georgians and more-recently Ukrainians adapting to life in occupied territories. This struggle is highlighted in this new art exhibition in Kyiv.
Visitors experience a surreal reality – not just with physical borders but those within the subconscious. The installation raises awareness of displaced persons – the individual tales of upheaval that dissappear within the broader political debate.
Hosting the installation is cultural platform Izolyatsia, a group not immune to the consequences of Russia’s forces in Ukraine.
Since the 2008 war, the Kremlin has swallowed more Georgian territory – sometimes splitting entire villages. It’s like a rural Berlin Wall, as one Al-Jazeera journalist described it. Hence the name of the exhibition – ‘Crawling Border’.
Watch also Architectural Intervention: Cultural platform ‘Izolyatsia’ heads to east Ukraine frontline
After walking through a tunnel with intense bombardment of sounds of gunfire and messages, we entered the room dedicated to displaced children. The Georgian military base in Gori was ransacked by Russian soldiers during the five-day war in 2008. This inspired the exhibits in the next room….
The installation was originally presented at the 56th Venice Biennale. There, artists started the #onvacation action, encouraging visitors to wear army uniforms and take selfie-style photos with different occupying powers – including Russian ‘green men’ in Ukraine’s Crimea peninsula.
Meanwhile the ‘Crawling Borders’ project in Kyiv runs until January 20th next year.
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