Non-accidental connections: artifacts of the Infante presented in Dubna
Renowned contemporary artist and pioneer of kinetic art Francisco Infante-Arana opened the exhibition in a unique location — the first professional gallery of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR) in Dubna. The exhibition "Artifacts of Francisco InFante" features more than 120 works from the personal collection of the master. Mikhail Shvydkoi, Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for International Cultural cooperation, and world-renowned scientists, including Academician Yuri Oganesyan, after whom the last element of the periodic table is named, attended the opening of the exhibition. Izvestia visited the exhibition and talked with the artist.
Where is the Infante exhibition?
Scientists at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research decided to demonstrate the connection between science and art. They opened a gallery within the walls of their House of International Meetings, the first professional exhibition space in the Dubna science city. The exhibition of our contemporary, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation and laureate of the State Prize of the Russian Federation Francisco Infante-Arana was chosen for its launch.
The exhibition, prepared jointly with the Veretievo Art Estate, was named "Artifacts of Francisco InFante". It is dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the concept of "artifact", a unique genre invented by the artist at the junction of installation and photography. 120 works of the classic were placed in three halls, creating a holistic impression of his work.
The inseparability of science and art was demonstrated at the grand opening of the exhibition. The ceremony was attended by world—renowned scientists, including Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Yuri Oganesyan, a recognized expert in the field of experimental nuclear physics. The last, 118th element of the periodic table, Oganeson (Og), is named in honor of the scientist.
As they joke in Dubna, it is quite possible to send a letter to a scientist here, specifying only chemical symbols from the chemical table in the address — and the correspondence is guaranteed to reach the recipient. This city is the only place in the world where postmen do not need to explain the meaning of chemical element designations.
Local addresses are literally saturated with science: Ru (Rutherium — ruthenium) symbolizes Russia; Mc (Moscovium — moscovium) perpetuates the Moscow region; Db (Dubnium — dubnium) refers to Dubna; Fl (Flerovium — flerovium) reminds of Flerova Street; Og (Oganesson — oganeson) points to the house where academician Yuri lives Tsolakovich Oganesyan.
Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Yuri Oganesyan at the opening of the exhibition
Such an original "chemical" addressing system clearly demonstrates how deeply science has penetrated into the daily life of the city.
"I don't understand anything about science, and I don't even have any intentions of understanding anything," Francisco Infante confessed. — I always enjoy listening to what scientists say. Because they have a completely different mindset. If a scientist thinks with his mind, then an artist follows the path of intuition.
What to see at the exhibition in Dubna
Upon arriving at the gallery, Mikhail Shvydkoi, Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for International Cultural Cooperation, immediately asked JINR Director Grigory Trubnikov: "If scientists came to the exhibition, who is watching the synchrophasotron?"
It turned out that while the guests were gathering, a steady circulation of collider beams was obtained. — Hurrah! The director exclaimed. — The bundles have met. NICA (Nuclotron-based Ion Collider fAcility) is working! The audience greeted the news with thunderous applause.
Mikhail Shvydkoi is not an accidental guest in Dubna. As he confessed, he is here as a "pimp", since it was he who introduced scientists and gallery owners to Francisco Infante.
— In 1966, Francisco created his first work. It was a time when they were trying to understand how much insight art has in a new era," Shvydkoi shared. — Science and creativity are something that has not yet been fully defined. And artists in their search are engaged in what has not yet been studied. Art continues to strive to explore unknown dimensions even in the 21st century.
— 50 years ago, Francisco Infante came up with the "artifact", — said the curator of the exhibition Irina Gorlova. — This is the creation of installations against the background of nature using different geometric compositions. Starting with the mirror objects he made in 1976, where triangles were the main object, and ending with the modern series "Signs of Eidos", which he created last summer. In it, the main theme becomes the wave. It is both a natural phenomenon and a part of physics.
The exhibition begins with the "Birth of Vertical", a work that the artist created at the age of 19. In each hall, visitors can see the intersection of old and new, where works from the 1960s and 2000s collide.
The guides warn: "Don't stumble!" Because the intersection in the exposition is literal. The works are shown on thin cables that attach them to the ceiling and floor with non-standard cross-fixation.
This is the artist's idea. He does not want the works to be hung up like photographs, it is important for him to show that this is something else and also part of the installation. And with the right lighting, visitors can see a separate piece even in the shadows on the floor.
Francisco Infante has presented his installations in different countries: Russia, France, Spain, Italy, Japan, Scotland. His works are in the collections of major Russian and world museums, including the Pompidou Center, the Brooklyn Museum, and the State Tretyakov Gallery.
In the next room, guests can see two films from the artist's personal archive.
— One film was edited by the artist's son Platon Infante in 2001, — said the curator. — It is based on historical materials. Videos were shot on VHS and on film in the 1970s and up to the 1990s. The second film was created by Alexander Dolgin and Iraida Yusupova as multimedia for an exhibition at the Tretyakov Gallery in 2014. Francisco's permanent collaborator was his wife, the artist Nonna Goryunova. She also appears on the screen. And the sons of the Infante came to Dubna to support their father.
The most attractive exhibit is the kinetic object "Space, motion, infinity". He's like a star in the dark, shining and spinning.
"It's ancient, I invented it in 1963, and in 1965 it was already in my head,— Francisco Infante explained. — This is a replica of the first object, which is located in Paris at the Pompidou Center. For me, this is a model of space, motion, infinity.
The same hall houses a series of works from 1965, which the artist calls the "Starry Sky Reconstruction Project."
On the eve of the exhibition, the artist met with Academician Oganesyan. We talked about philosophical topics. We found a lot in common. Infante said that Oganesyan "says he doesn't understand what infinity is, but I think he's lying. Although I can't explain it to him because I don't understand what it is myself. That's why I've been doing infinity all my life.
You can see the works of Francisco Infante at the JINR Gallery until July 27.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
