Cleaners of Europe is a mobile installation, reflecting upon the existing boarder problem between the post-USSR countries and EU.
The name of the installation symbolizes the role, which country dwellers of the post-soviet play for the EU, while exporting old things from the EU countries and improving the economics of the boarder territories. The saw-cut automobile ironically demonstrates the precise examination, which happens at the border control. I was inspired by the school biology classes, where the complex morphology of an organism could be studied by the body, preserved in formalin. With the automobile I have travelled the classical route of the people, heading for EU shopping tours.
I made stops in Poland at the supermarkets parking lots and major railway junctions, places of concentration of those who travel for shopping. I have communicated with people on the spot, recording their reactions at the installation. After “Shopping”, the installation travelled to the Ministry of Foreign affairs of Poland, carrying a rhetorical question “Do Cleaners of Europe need visas?”. This form of expositional criticism is aimed not only at EU countries, which could unilaterally cancel visas in order to facilitate integration of the post-soviet countries into the western European sociocultural environment, but also at the people from the post-soviet countries, who travel for shopping without realizing the role they play for the EU. Another important moment – is that shopping tours to Europe are just tools for making people’s lives more comfortable, but a goal. Thus there is a misplacement of ideas. In Europe one can access many things – travelling, education, impressions, history, arts, however, we go there for material goods, forgetting the rest.
- 2024
- 2023
- 2022
- 2021
- 2020
- 2019
- 2018
- 2017
- 2016
- 2015
- 2014
- 2013
- 2012
- 2011
- 2010
- 2009
- 2008
- 2007
- 2006
- 2005
- 2004
- 2003
- 2002
- 2001
- 2000
- 1999
- 1998
- 1997
- 1996
- 1995
- 1994
- 1993
- 1992
- 1991
- 1990
- 1989
- 1988
- 1987
- 1986
- 1985
- 1982
- 1977
- 1976
- 1974
- 1972
- 1971
- 1970
- 1969
- 1962
- 1960
- 1958
- 1956
- 1954
- 1953
- 1952
- 1937
- 1932
- 1930
- 1927
- 1925
- 1921
- 1920
- 1919
- 1912
- 1891
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
1991
1990
1989
1988
1987
1986
1985
1982
1977
1976
1974
1972
1971
1970
1969
1962
1960
1958
1956
1954
1953
1952
1937
1932
1930
1927
1925
1921
1920
1919
1912
1891
eng Translation Pending Review