[oberlist] AT* evnt/expo: "SHELTER": project by SOSka group (UA) together with Ilya Budraitskis (RU), Sophie Thun (PL/AT), Adrien Tirtiaux (BE) and Anna Witt (DE)

[Vladimir US]

SHELTER

Project by SOSka group (UA) together with Ilya Budraitskis (RU),  
Sophie Thun (PL/AT), Adrien Tirtiaux (BE) and Anna Witt (DE)


November 7 – December 15, 2012

Kunstverein das weisse haus,

Argentinenstrasse 11, 1040 Vienna


November 6, 7 pm: Opening of the exhibition

December 15, 3 pm: Public talk between Ilya Budraitskis and Mykola  
Ridnyi, SOSka group, on the topic: “Can we hide from crisis?  
Capitalism, Shelters and Escapes”.


In different periods of time political propaganda was producing a  
social phobia connected with threat of war and a cult of defense.  
Homemade shelters and public bunkers are the result of social panic  
which actualizes memories about historical tensions of Cold war and  
violence of World War II. Underground cellars in cities, on a country  
side or in forests are the mass phenomenon, combining public fear and  
private space.

Since that time shelters have been turned into new functions,  
according to situate necessity, adapted by personal creativity within  
lack of facilities. In nineties post-soviet area was covered with  
inflation and economic crisis. Many people lost their salary and  
started to grow food by themselves. Many bunkers in Ukraine became a  
stock place for vegetables and preserves. In a context of post- 
totalitarian Albania, where poverty is mixed with conservative social  
morality, shelters were used as a secret places for dates.

The WWII left own traces in public space, where is a balance between  
symbol of protection and attack is really instable. Shame past of  
Flakturm towers in Vienna which now are under preservation of sites of  
historic interest was remarked into socially valued spaces like zoo or  
contemporary art platform. The fact of protection under the former  
Nazi's military bases and strategy shelters is still controversial.

Artificially from Hitler’s bunker, where he died, this shelter stands  
as an architectural symbol of a historical moment, showing the fall  
and dishonorable end of the dictator. Nowadays in modern wars like  
Iraq war, anti terror war, Libyan civil war and with the increased  
influence and accessibility of mass media, this symbolic function has  
even more impact. It is a piece of evidence of the victory over the  
evil, shared with the whole world through detailed plans, photos and  
YouTube videos as in the case of recently famous shelters like Saddam  
Hussein’s, Osama Bin Laden’s or Kaddafi’s.

Shelters in all different countries are phenomena or relicts of mostly  
dark periods of history or political situations in very specific ways.  
Throw different situations they keeps a traces of economical and  
political cataclysms based on reduction of territories, resources and  
power. (SOSka group)


Kunstverein das weisse haus

Argentinierstraße 11, 1040 Vienna

Opening hours: Tue-Fri 1-7pm, Sat noon-5pm

www.dasweissehaus.at

www.soskagroup.com


Attached picture:

Mykola Ridnyi “Shelter”, still from video, 2012. Courtesy the artist.





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