ALEXANDER REICHSTEIN
CANARY WHARF
Winter Lights 2019
London, UK
15-26 January 2019
curated by vassiliki tzanakou
Last Parade is a site-specific video installation by Russo-Finnish artist Alexander Reichstein curated by Vassiliki Tzanakou (ARTinTRA) for Canary Wharf Winter Lights, which will run between 15-26 January 2019, 5pm-10pm. Inspired the Platonic philosophy and in particular the ‘Allegory of the Cave’, Reichstein created a 25metre long video projection of a wildlife reserve where the shadows of endangered animals are marching by the Canary Wharf waterside.
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For ‘Last Parade’ Reichstein is using the relationship between ordinary objects and their shadows (or their reflections) that Plato used in his philosophy to illustrate the relationship between the Physical World and the World of Ideas, and our relation to the world we exist in. His aim is to further question human activity and the impact it has on the natural environment, as well as to explore whether a shift of our ideas – and hence of our actions – can reverse the environmental destruction humans have created. The shadows of the animals walking in pairs, just as they did when marching towards Noah’s Arc, are passing before us. Is this going to be their “Last Parade”?
The work was originally commissioned by the Moscow Polytechnic Museum, and has been created in collaboration with Tatyana Moshkova (animation) and Georgi Baranov (sound).
Please find by clicking on the weblink a downloadable brochure and map.
ALEXANDER REICHSTEIN (b. 1957) is a Russo-Finnish artist based in Helsinki, Finland. After finishing his studies in printed media design and illustration at the Moscow Polygraphical Institute, Reichstein worked for a variety of publishing companies designing and illustrating books for both children and adults. Since 1990 Reichstein expanded his practice including painting, sculpture, video art and site-specific installations. His work has been exhibited in museums and festivals internationally, including Bella Skyway Light Festival, Poland (2018), Fête de la Lumière, France (2017), LUNA Light Festival Netherland (2016), Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde, Stuttgart (2015), Ordrugaard Museum Copenhagen (2014), City Sculpture Museum, St Petersburg (2013), Ateneum Museum Helsinki (2007), the State Museum of Religious History, St Ptersburg (2006), Amos Anderson Art Museum, Helsinki (2004), the National Museum Stockholm (1991). www.reichstein.name
for further information please email info@artintra.net
The videos below have been uploaded by visitors of the installation
