Open Group. Due to the circumstances

Realized: September 2 – October 6, 2017

Сurator: Waldemar Tatarczuk

Open Group (Stanislav Turina, Dmitro Vlasyuk, Anatoly Dmitrenco, Yuriy Biley, Alexander Larkin, Yevgen Samborsky, Adrian Gonda, Taras Shpak, Yuriy Blinov, Sеmеn Sidora, Dmytro Kuvychko, Ivan Pukhov, Oleg Perkovsky, Yulia Ibragimova, Pavlo Kovach (senior), Sergiy Yakunin, Anatoliy Tatarenko, Oleksiy Salmanov, Volodymyr Vorotniov, Maria Lianko, Liza German, Tatiana Kochubinska, Dobrynia Ivanov, Sasha Kurmaz, Tomasc Gazlinski, Valeriy Kumanovski, Anton Varga, Lubomir Tymkiv, Artem Kafelman, Lada Nakonechna, Danylo Kovach, Ivan Oleksiak, San Morce, Pavlo Kovach, Volodymyr Topiy, Vyacheslav Polyakov, Yuriy Sokolov, Vik Kovrey, Lazarkova Olga, Lakyej Tatyana Mykolayivna, Valyeriya, Sofiya Zhurman, Panitration Icunt, Roksolana Makar, Chernega Genadij, Yuliya Oduvanchik(Safo), A. Simferovskaya, Litvinyenko Anastasyya, Yaryna Shumska, Olesya Novyk, Artem Andrijchuk, Uta Kilter, Vladymir Afanasyefich, Vanya, Aleksandr Maxach, Maksym, Usachenko Sofiya, Yulichka, Chernyshyn Oleksandr, Kateryna, Byegutova Anna, Chernysh Oleksandr, M., Kristi, Igor, Majlis M., Ruda Maryny, Olena, Andrij, Dariya Mityuk, Kravchenko Tatyana, Bondar Myxajl, Zhenya, Volodymyr Smykovskyj, Anton Kistol, Shherbenko Vladyslav, Anatolij Omelchenko, Vorobej Ganna, Vitalij Koxan, Kokash Radion, Teslya Rodion, Neda, Stanislav, Nastya, Lyudmyla Kyrychenko-Solomon, Klymenko Oleksandr, Dobrynya, Sveta, Viktoriya Rybakova, Klyevyer, Katya, Burtovyj Bogdan, Anya, Alona Makovenko, E.A, Oleksandr, L.s., L., Bocharova Yuliya, Bogdan Zuxer-Yanchuk, Beata, Nadyezhda, Yelyzaveta, Sajga Solomiya, Anna Duxovychna, Anja, Mora, Mariz, Mariia, Zhenya Matirka, Carl, Dariya Ivanova, Oleg, Mykola, Natasha Shalovskaya, Nataliya, Valya, Alona, Stasa O.T., Pavlo, Andryej, Losha Shhavlovskij, Valeriya, Zelenyj Xrumkt, Muxa, Sergyej, Surzhanskyj Yevgenij, Sergij, Ira Zapolskaya, Ksyeniya, Oksana, Lyxovyda Sergij, Yulya, Agnesa A.B.V, Oleg, Shtajda Yurij, Digac4ka, Vanya Kravchuk (Kaverz), Liliya, Anya, Vitalij Gavurya, Doris Okoedion, German Kateryna, Anya Usanova, Karpenko Anna, Olenka, Liliya Lavruk, Kseniya, Ruslik, Roma, Babenko Alina, Lyera, Dyachenko Anastasiya, Anastasiya, Serafima, Iryna, Kolya, Dzhesi Xajdegger, Anna Bovduj, Kseniya Bagmut, Dzherelovska Inna, Agata, Liza V., Aironhood, Misha Bondaryev, Sofiya-Ulyana Stanko, Svyatoslava, Veronika Dukie, Adan Nankervis, Pawel Korbus, Gabriella Medvetska, Masha Pogrebnyak, Viktoriya Tarasenko, Artem, Olya, Yuliya Gudak, Vlad, Stefan, Kateryna Panchenko, L.K, Tanya, Lyera, Bondar Nataliya, Albyertyna, Zarina, Antonina, Alina Lyalyuxina, Yaroslav, Dariya Babych, Iliya Dutov-Gudzenko, Maryna Sadovaya, Alina, Ruslana Grynchyshyna, Diana, Bogdan T., Kulchyczka Ulyana, Mykyta Ishhuk, Kseniya, Nastya, Ira, Byelyeczkaya Tamara, Iryna Kostyshyna, Yerofyeyeva Nastasya, Yekatyerina Prostrila, Doroshenko Illya, Yulya, Yura, Kazak Yevgenij, Svitlana Didyk, Bonchuk Roman, Korniyevskyj Pavlo, Anton, Ye.Pushkina, Sinicza Olga, Xrystyna, Valeriya, Maksym, Ivan, Olya MIshkova, Tatarenko Anatolij, Aleksandra i Natasha, Dmytro, Yegor Suxaryev, Veronika, Kristina, Veronika, Ilinyx Alyeksyej, Yasya Grej, Vika, Lyudmyla Kyrychuk, Kovtunenko Dariya, Volkov Ivan, Alina Mryga, Sergij, Katya, Alina, Goryanska Viktoriya, Iryna Ivanishheva, Krot, Vova Dendik, Tayisiya, Svyatoslav Byelza, Kseniya Korotnaj, Aneta Gumenyuk, Malanka Vasyl, Katya Tyxonenko, Alina, Vikbor, Mixail Alyeksyeyenko, Yaroslav Futymskyj, Sergyej, Ira, Yurij Nakalyuzhnyj, Illya, Anastasiya Xuzinskaya, Vyera, Kolya Cybulskyj, Lyera, Skulyak P.S, Marjya, Anna Shtaxura, Masha, Diana Bilokonenko, Mariya Kotlyar, Vilshovskyj Vitalij, Katya Pokladova, Kseniya, Anton Cyrkunov, Nastya, Bandy, Volodymyr Romanuxa, KAVA, Lyera, Tereza Barabash, Sonya, Artem Roskolnikov, Anton Sayenko, Petro Ryaska, Yekatyerina Fedorovskaya, Maks Robotov, A.M, Alyeksandr Fyeldman, Mariya Gonchar, Bogdan Seredyak, Rashyd Kanyevich, Valyerij Kopysov, Lumia, M, Yevgenij Zagorodnij, Myroslava Kozar, Alina Zvizdeczka, Anastasiya, Lesya Shherbenko, Oksana Kazmina, Marsel Onysko, Anton Logov, Margarita Kisyelova, Vladlena Skachenko, Liza Kornejchuk, Sergij Savchenko, MIla Vasilyeva, Valyera, Artur Korniyenko, Svitlana Libet, Misha Pyerminov, Oles Barlix, Nik, Anatolij Fedirko, Katya, Inna, Katya, Dariya Xoxulya, Vladlena, Semen Kurczov, Sonya Volkova, Mariya Makushnenko, Roman Yaremenko, Olya, Mariya, Gleb Xomenko, Yevgeniya Karazha, Alona Vezza(Bevza), Tosha, Dorya Kolyesnikova, E., Igor Kopanko, A. Ellys, Natalka Yurchyshyn, Alina Gorbach, Attila Gazhlinski, KIO, Vasyl, Anastasiya Malysheva, Lidiya Spl, Yakubenko Alina, S.T, Vladyslav Gabda, Dudchak Yana, Kosmina Bogdana, Kyryk Anastasiya, Alina, Sadovska Noya, Alona, Tayisiya, Sofiya, Fyeya, Vlodko Kostyrko).

Open Group is one of the most interesting artistic collectives from Ukraine. The group was founded in 2012 and consists of four artists - Yuriy Biley, Anton Varga, Stanislav Turina, Pavlo Kovach.

The Open Group exhibition at the Arsenal Gallery is flanked by two works, which seem to be an exception from the practice that they got us accustomed to during their five year activity. It is in “Diorama” and “For Internal Use Only” that the artists hide behind the work. The action, the focus on the process, very often taken to extremes (taking the 21st century art standards into consideration), that are so characteristic in their works, are not visible here. An example of the distinctive group activity is the “Synonym for <wait>”, realized as a part of the “Hope” exhibition in the Ukrainian Pavilion during the 56th Biennale in Venice. Each of the members spent 3 weeks at a table placed in front of an installation monitoring nine apartments, waiting for a soldier that had gone to war. This work represents three of the most crucial elements of the group's activity.

The first and possibly the fundamental one is action – rather extreme in this case, resembling the works of a 1980s performance icon, Tehching Hsieh. The performance of the “Synonym for <wait>” went on throughout the entire time of the exhibition, not only during the 8 hours when the exposition was open to the public, but also after its closing time. The artists went back to their hotel, but they didn't eat during the whole time of the exhibition, they waited.

The second element is space. We can see an installation at the exhibition, but it is inextricably linked to nine places in Ukraine. Observation of these places by the performer gives meaning to this work. And finally, the hotel they live in, the way from the hotel to the pavilion and the whole Venice they move around. Action continues also after the closing hours of the exhibition. Another work and an exhibition at the same time that required a continuous presence of the group members is the

“Biography”. The exhibition expanded during the everyday activity at the gallery during the opening hours. Each of the members performed one of the previously prepared roles/functions. Such expansion, growing of the exhibition was present earlier in “Ars Longa Vita Brevis”. Every day during the exhibition, a new element, which was the recording of the passing day, was exposed.

The third element, which seems to be the core principle of the group, is co-operation, the “openness” included in the collective's name. The “Open Group” presently comprises four regular members, but the number changes depending on a project. To find these four names, you have to go through a list of about 500 people that have joined the group in different projects. It came as no surprise that, just like R.E.P., however, on a bigger scale, the collective decided to curate an exhibition in 2017 presenting artistic groups and communities of Ukraine. The subject is of great importance to them.

Let us return to works I have mentioned at the beginning. “For Internal Use Only” relates to the Lvov – Kiev route that the artists have been taking regularly in the recent years and they know it like the way from home to work. What it lacks, however, is the great narrative, dramaturgy or romanticism known from the history of numerous works devoted to the concept of the road, such as “The Great Wall” by Abramovic/Ulay, Richard Long's activity, “Different Trains” by Steve Reich or “Easy Rider” by Dennis Hopper. What is present, though, is a mild self-mockery related to the artistic gigantomania and exaggeration. A photo with random fellow travellers taken at the Kiev railway station was printed in the largest format possible and put in museum frames. Little scenes that were observed on the underground or tramway, were later played out by professional actors in front of a camera to produce aesthetic videos. A text printed in a book form and published in 650 copies, which were partially placed on an overly elegant table, and the rest was left unpacked in boxes. All of it forms a part of the exhibition, just like the books that you can read, but, despite their great amount and the gallery convention, you cannot get or buy.

“Diorama”, however, is yet something different. On the one hand, we are presented with minimalism that is uncommon for the Open Group and, on the other hand, we get theatricality that was already touched upon in “For Internal Use Only”. “Diorama” is, in a way, a continuation of the “Open Gallery” cycle that the group has been implementing since its creation, but it lacks action, so characteristic of the groups' activity until now. The diorama is not formed in reality, it is not physically produced by the actions of the group members. It is created by means of language. At the same time, it is an opposite to “open galleries”. They were the symbol of exhibition spaces for modern art, which are almost completely absent in Ukraine. This diorama, however, is being told as realistically as possible by means of space known from the past. There might be a joke hidden here, though, as the dioramas built during the Soviet times presented heroic or dramatic events from history. The Open Group, however, has created something opposite – a “diorama of peace”. Both works emphasise the creation, place the authors in the shadow and, at the same time, paradoxically, expose them, as they are created only by the regular group members, whose names do not disappear in the mass of other temporary names, like in the other projects. Could this imply a new direction in the group's work?

Waldemar Tatarczuk, 2017

Synonym for "wait", 2015Synonym for "wait", 2015Backyard, 2015Backyard, 2015Backyard, 2015Biography, 2014Biography, 2014Biography, 2014 Keys to the Gallery, 2013Keys to the Gallery, 2013Keys to the Gallery, 2013Keys to the Gallery, 2013Keys to the Gallery, 20131 m³, 2015 – Ongoing