Comments on Zmina project in Kramatorsk

On 2-3 April, 2015 IZOLYATSIA is implementing the Zmina project in Kramatorsk, which envisages the holding of IZOLAB workshops, lectures and master classes on documentary photography, and documentary film screenings. In addition, as part of the project, the House of Cards installation will be showcased, and on April 3 at 18:00 a performance based on the House of Cards is planned.

The House of Cards installation by Sergey Zakharov (Murzilki group) is a spacial object composed of 15 cards, 120x85cm, featuring caricatures of officials of the self-proclaimed "Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republic". The cornerstone card is a Joker, portraying Putin.

On 17 March 2015 IZOLYATSIA’s Program Director, Anna Medvedeva and artist Sergey Zakharov met with Olga Barvynyuk (department of culture), and Victoria Hordienko (department of priority development) at the Kramatorsk City Council to describe the Zmina project, the House of Cards installation, and the performance. As a result of the meeting, the City Council gave its preliminary approval to place the installation on Lenin’s Square in Kramatorsk as part of the Zmina project. Considering the situation in the city, which is part of the anti-terrorist operation zone (ATO), the foundation sent a request No.23 of 23.03.2015 to Ms. Vorobiova E.A., the secretary of the City Council, in which the foundation presented its project and asked for assistance in assembling the installation in the central part of the city.

In response, the foundation received a letter from the City Council No. № 01-49/1065 of 30.03.2015, which did not contain a straightforward refusal, but offered another platform, which could be used for IZOLYATSIA’s event (the State Machine-building Academy). It was also noted in the letter that bad weather conditions may lead to a small turnout of participants, which may contribute to the House of Cards installation and performance falling short of the desired effect.

On 1 April 2015 the discussion of IZOLYATSIA’s project took place at the City executive committee meeting of Kramatorsk, during which the government representatives voiced their opinions on the fact that the city needs working factories and “efforts on creation and peace”. At 23.00 Anna Medvedeva received a phone call with threats pertaining to her professional activity.

Considering this situation, the foundation’s team chose not to place the House of Cards installation on the main square, and situated it at Vilna Khata, even though the space is not large enough for installing objects of such large size.  At the same time, on 2 April 2015 at 15:30 IZOLYATSIA’s team, the accompanying journalists, and the representatives of the special division “Svarog” of the Ukrainian rescue service were able to meet with Ms. Vorobiova.  Ms. Vorobiova indicated that the City Council proposed a different platform for the installation exclusively based on considerations of security for IZOLYATSIA’s team members. At the same time, considering the foundation’s letter request № 23 of 30.04.2015, the holding of the artistic event remains possible. In addition, Ms. Vorobiova confirmed that the security of IZOLYATSIA’s team members will be ensured by representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

On 3 April from 10:00 to 18:00 IZOLYATSIA invites the residents of Kramatorsk to Lenin’s Square, where the House of Cards installation will be assembled. At 18:00 the performance will take place.