Vyacheslav Akhunov’s installation “Mantras of the USSR”, developed by the artist since 1975

When Miziano and Krasteva, the curators of the exhibition "Service of Time" at Garage, wrote about the relation between spiritual labour and time, and about the different forms time may take in art, what did they have in mind, and how is it expressed in t.

Step, say, into the whole room given over to the display by the patriarch of Central Asian art, Vyacheslav Akhunov, "Mantras of the USSR", stop anywhere and simply read what is written on the sheets bearing Soviet paraphernalia, then glance at the signatures: Akhun87, Akhun76, Akhun91,... This installation was begun in 1975: for almost half a century the artist has been developing a single thought! That is Spirit Labour.

I recommend wandering among the shelving and looking closely at the details: you may, for instance, recall that Stalin is everywhere with us.

The governing idea is a kunstkammer of Soviet absurdities: portraits of leaders and meaningless slogans are displayed with their absurdity and meaninglessness turned outward.

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Vyacheslav Akhunov’s installation “Mantras of the USSR”, developed by the artist since 1975

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September digest: archaeological finds, exhibitions, museums, theatre and the Church

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