Heirloom
Project pre-presentation
Project pre-presentation
"Pridanoje" is a word that can mean both heirloom or dowry, often passed on from mother to child, put together even before the child’s birth. In this project we focus on what we, born in the end or on the ruins of the USSR, came into the world with, and how this heritage shapes our lives today. What uncontrollable things shaped our identity and how they now shape our future, how they connect us to our ancestors and (future) descendants. What lies in an old wooden chest we are bound to carry with us in life?
"Reset". Pendant, 2024.
Vera Factor
Vera Factor
Sometime in 2023, I was having tea in the kitchen, and a pack of "Yubileynoye" (eng. Anniversary) cookies was lying on the table. I suddenly noticed the inscription "since 1913" under the name. So that’s 110 years ago, before the revolution? But this name is firmly ingrained in our consciousness as something undeniably Soviet. Whose anniversary is it, then?
"Yubileynoye" cookies were made for the 300th anniversary of the Romanov royal family. So, the cookies themselves have changed little, but their cultural and associative meaning has been completely replaced. Their original meaning was reset. How often does this happen to objects? How frequently — with us?
Perhaps, likely, even, I will be able to reset my own meaning, to shed the burden of the past, freeing my body and energy for a leap forward. I’ve embedded this aspiration into the pendant, making it my talisman
"Yubileynoye" cookies were made for the 300th anniversary of the Romanov royal family. So, the cookies themselves have changed little, but their cultural and associative meaning has been completely replaced. Their original meaning was reset. How often does this happen to objects? How frequently — with us?
Perhaps, likely, even, I will be able to reset my own meaning, to shed the burden of the past, freeing my body and energy for a leap forward. I’ve embedded this aspiration into the pendant, making it my talisman
Vera Factor
Vera was born in Moscow in 1985. She received education as a photographer and had been doing this for ten years, however, she has always been interested in the art of jewelry making. She started learning jewelry making in 2022 and continued her education after emigrating to Tbilisi, Georgia. She now works on her personal art projects.
"Dowry". Earrings series, 2023.
Maria Pukhova
Maria Pukhova
I was born and spent my entire childhood traveling around the Russian North, observing and accumulating knowledge about my roots. It was only as an adult that I came to appreciating the importance of maintaining connections with my ancestors, in my case through culture. This is how the "Dowry" jewelry series was born. It tells about the beauty of embroidery, about pearls, as the most beautiful craft of the Russian north.
Maria Pukhova | Oh, Masha!
Maria has been working with enamels since 2014. She also completed a master's degree in Glass Art. She has been conducting exhibition activities as a multidisciplinary artist since 2020, in Russia, Georgia and other countries.
"Lost, not forgotten". Ring, 2024.
Evgenia Elanic
Evgenia Elanic
I'm lucky — I have a very valuable heirloom. I know who I am. I know a lot about my family. My great-great-grandfather lived near my home, which I had to leave only recently. I don't know what kind of person he was, but he had to work very, very hard to make his way from peasant to nobleman. His house was very, very close… But it was wooden, and it was in Moscow. Now there is a road there.
Maybe somewhere deep underground, under the asphalt, there is an old log basement… And there, in a gap between the logs, in the dust and earth, lies for me a greeting from the distant, distant past.
They probably were not rich people; it would be strange to imagine lost diamonds and gold there. But even non-precious jewelry rusted by time would be the most precious heirloom to me. A connection to people I admire.
Maybe somewhere deep underground, under the asphalt, there is an old log basement… And there, in a gap between the logs, in the dust and earth, lies for me a greeting from the distant, distant past.
They probably were not rich people; it would be strange to imagine lost diamonds and gold there. But even non-precious jewelry rusted by time would be the most precious heirloom to me. A connection to people I admire.
Evgenia Elanic | Elanic Gallery
Evgenia Elanic is a young artist who first started creating jewelry at the age of 14. She received a BoS degree in Technologies of Jewelry Manufacturing and a MoA in Design in Moscow before moving to Georgia. She now works in Tbilisi while frequently participating in international exhibitions and events. In 2024 she founded an international art collective DVIZH where she co-curates contemporary jewelry exhibitions.
The great-great-grandfather I mentioned in my statement is from my father's side. His story is so unique, I am sure he was a remarkable man. Maybe he didn't have a pleasant personality but I still would have to admire him. Born a peasant in a village near Moscow, he worked at a railroad and managed to receive an engineer education, was elevated to nobility and given a piece of land next to the Moscow Ring Railway. Specializing in railway bridges, he was part of the Russian delegation to Exposition Universelle of 1900 in Paris presenting the Yenisei River Bridge project. On the old photo you can see his house but he did not live there — he gave it to the railroad engineers he was the chief of and he himself lived in the small one next to it.
My mother's side family were also peasants. There is a village near Lipetsk where a branch of our family lived for generations — we could track them back to the XVIII century. I have never been there. In 2021, my family visited that place, the cemetery where all of them lie, the church where they would go. It so happened that I could not come. In 2022 Russia full-scale invaded Ukraine and I emigrated.
My mother's side family were also peasants. There is a village near Lipetsk where a branch of our family lived for generations — we could track them back to the XVIII century. I have never been there. In 2021, my family visited that place, the cemetery where all of them lie, the church where they would go. It so happened that I could not come. In 2022 Russia full-scale invaded Ukraine and I emigrated.
"Cut it off". Brooch, 2024.
Eira Teufel
Eira Teufel
This way, it will be easier when they force you to run again.
My heirloom is my memory. Memory of forget-me-nots trampled, of a pear tree swamped, of a rusty kolkhoz knife broken. Of pine trees, of izbas lopsided and abandoned. Of boys stealing apples with us and eating ripe raspberries heated under the sun. They can’t check this at the customs, nor can’t they see this on an X-ray.
The future is like a memory cell wiped clean right now. You can’t possibly know what data it will hold again, or if it will hold any data at all. We’ll see. In the meantime, make it easier and cut it off.
My heirloom is my memory. Memory of forget-me-nots trampled, of a pear tree swamped, of a rusty kolkhoz knife broken. Of pine trees, of izbas lopsided and abandoned. Of boys stealing apples with us and eating ripe raspberries heated under the sun. They can’t check this at the customs, nor can’t they see this on an X-ray.
The future is like a memory cell wiped clean right now. You can’t possibly know what data it will hold again, or if it will hold any data at all. We’ll see. In the meantime, make it easier and cut it off.
Eira Teufel
Eira is an embroidery artist born in a tiny old town in a Finno-Ugric part of Russia in a family of engineers, artists and linguists. While studying engineering and biology in St. Petersburg she simultaneoulsy started her artist's journey as creator and teacher, and became a trendsetter in international embroidery community. Now she's a nomad somewhere between Asia and Europe.
"I will have to go back". Facepiece, 2024.
Vera Popova
Vera Popova
"I will have to go back" is a phrase that often is spoken by people leaving Russia temporarily. Myself included. Because we will have to go back, to live and work in our country, so now we have to be cautious with our words and actions to avoid legal persecution.
This is a gag, only with a candy in your mouth. It’s a symbol of trying to cheer yourself up, to sweeten the pill, to chew on the carrot harder, trying to forget about the stick.
Human psyche is flexible. In the last years I could clearly see how naturally and smoothly we get used to restrictions, how we rationalize and find excuses. We praise ourselves for our perseverance…
… and the gag becomes a candy. But it is made of glass. It has no taste, it will not bring joy or satiation. And, one day, it will burst with shivers, crushed under teeth of a person forced to endure for too long.
I, as many others, have to keep silent about many things. Because I will have to go back.
This is a gag, only with a candy in your mouth. It’s a symbol of trying to cheer yourself up, to sweeten the pill, to chew on the carrot harder, trying to forget about the stick.
Human psyche is flexible. In the last years I could clearly see how naturally and smoothly we get used to restrictions, how we rationalize and find excuses. We praise ourselves for our perseverance…
… and the gag becomes a candy. But it is made of glass. It has no taste, it will not bring joy or satiation. And, one day, it will burst with shivers, crushed under teeth of a person forced to endure for too long.
I, as many others, have to keep silent about many things. Because I will have to go back.
Vera Popova | Like A' Glass
Vera Popova is a lampwork artist from Moscow. She graduated from the Faculty of Glass Art of the Stroganov Moscow State Academy of Arts and Industry and later founded her own studio. She has been frequently participating in applied arts exhibitions in Russia and Europe.
"Knowledge disarmed". Necklace and cuffs, 2024.
Agnia Likratowa
Agnia Likratowa
Humanity is constantly evolving and growing in complexity, but the heritage of generations is with us. The sum of human knowledge is right there, a click or a tap away; it has never been so easy to learn and advance. Sadly, all these possibilities may be worthless.
Our government lives in the past, violent and ignorant. Stay down and silent or be welcome in a gulag hellhole in the Far North. Your great-grandfather was a smartass too, and he ended exactly like that. Your country does not need what you have to say. Nor does it care.
We know this pain well — to watch unable to speak, to understand unable to act. No advances in science and philosophy can help when you are tied with the barbaric superstitions and hatemongering, elevated to law by the state.
Sophisticated and elegant lacy chainmail is a symbol of one’s cognition and evolution. Their hands are tied with rough rope of state’s violence. Primal and wretched, it is still working as well as it worked with your ancestors.
Our government lives in the past, violent and ignorant. Stay down and silent or be welcome in a gulag hellhole in the Far North. Your great-grandfather was a smartass too, and he ended exactly like that. Your country does not need what you have to say. Nor does it care.
We know this pain well — to watch unable to speak, to understand unable to act. No advances in science and philosophy can help when you are tied with the barbaric superstitions and hatemongering, elevated to law by the state.
Sophisticated and elegant lacy chainmail is a symbol of one’s cognition and evolution. Their hands are tied with rough rope of state’s violence. Primal and wretched, it is still working as well as it worked with your ancestors.
Agnia Likratowa
Agnia Likratowa is a chainmaille artist born in Siberia. Early on her professional journey she started to build the first Russian-speaking online community of chainmaille artists and popularize this kind of craft. She now is the most widely known chainmalle artist in Russia and founder of a unique style of artistic chainmaille, having mastered over 300 weaves. Since 2022 she lives and works in Belgrade, Serbia.
My family's story be like:
— Your great-grandmother is a survivor of dekulakization. Siberia, winter, 8 children are now homeless, the father of the family is executed for not giving away to the kolkhoz their only cow.
— Your great-grandfather is not allowed to enter a literature university because of his German last name. They tell him: "We do not need such people here".
— Your other great-grandfather is repressed and exiled to an unknown destination for a comment he made about match prices in the Russian Empire and the USSR.
— Your grandfather is a clever and gifted man and being a physicist he creates numerous inventions which he patents in Europe. Back at home, all they can offer is a low-paid teaching job.
During his last years of life Russia would adopt an awesome law "on the availability of medicines" which would make his only drug disappear from the country.
You make the decision to emigrate easily, and six months later comrades in uniform begin to check on your half-Ukrainian husband from time to time. Fortunately, you are already in another country.
You did the right thing.
Because you remembered.
— Your great-grandmother is a survivor of dekulakization. Siberia, winter, 8 children are now homeless, the father of the family is executed for not giving away to the kolkhoz their only cow.
— Your great-grandfather is not allowed to enter a literature university because of his German last name. They tell him: "We do not need such people here".
— Your other great-grandfather is repressed and exiled to an unknown destination for a comment he made about match prices in the Russian Empire and the USSR.
— Your grandfather is a clever and gifted man and being a physicist he creates numerous inventions which he patents in Europe. Back at home, all they can offer is a low-paid teaching job.
During his last years of life Russia would adopt an awesome law "on the availability of medicines" which would make his only drug disappear from the country.
You make the decision to emigrate easily, and six months later comrades in uniform begin to check on your half-Ukrainian husband from time to time. Fortunately, you are already in another country.
You did the right thing.
Because you remembered.
Total 36 artists from 12 countries were selected for the offline exhibition 20-29 Sept.
20 Pavle Ingorokva, Tbilisi
Escapist
20 Pavle Ingorokva, Tbilisi
Escapist