| Jon Bewley and Simon Herbert on Fri, 1 May 1998 18:15:15 +0100 |
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| Syndicate: Stefan Gec / L+ |
LOCUS+ projects: STEFAN GEC NATURAL HISTORY a public art project Ukrainian Education and Cultural Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba and MULTIPLES Art Metropole, Toronto, Ontario April - June 1998 Nine years ago, on April 26 1986, the Chernobyl nuclear power station disaster occurred in the Ukraine. Soviet fire-fighters were allocated three minutes each by the authorities to physically clear radioactive debris from the roof of the power station. For this task, they were issued with basic protective clothing which was insufficient to block out the effects of the radiation. Since then, many have died. On April 26 1998, the twelfth anniversary of the disaster visual artist Stefan Gec will present "Natural History", consisting of six 4.5 metre x 3 metre portraits of the first six fire-fighters - Nikolai Vasilievich Vashchuk, Vasilii Ivanovich Ignatenko, Victor Nikolaevich Kibenok, Vladimir Pavlovich Pravik, Nikolai Ivanovich Titenok and Vladimir Ivanovich Tishchura - to have died. These scanachrome portraits (photographic reproductions on vinyl), measuring a total length of 18 metres, will look down from the roof of the Ukrainian Education and Cultural Centre in Winnipeg. According to Gec, "this piece will work on several levels. Firstly, as a memorial to the firemen, which attempts to identify such a large-scale tragedy with individuals and members of their families. Secondly, the work will attempt to unite the two fire brigades [Soviet and Canadian] through a public display of sympathy and reverence. It will not only look back at the accident, but will also reflect on the ever present possibilities of death which every fire-fighter faces on a daily basis." Stefan Gec, a second-generation Ukrainian, has examined, through his work as an artist, links between his ancestral homeland and Britain since 1988. Documentation of other works can be seen on our website. This work "Natural History" has been seen in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Bracknall, Ottawa and Derry. Details from Shirley Madill, Winnipeg Art Gallery (204) 786 6641. In addition to this there will be an exhibition of Stefan Gec's multiples and Locus + publications at Art Metropole in Toronto (April - May). The multiples include the Ukrainian Firemans Tunic Button (22ct gold. Ed 10), the Childrens Mathematics Exercise Book (ed 10) and a selection of Falconry Hoods. Details from Anne Dean (416) 703 4400. Stefan Gec's catalogue, Trace Elements (ISBN 1 899377 05 0), contains details of his work since 1988 as well as details of his journey to the Ukraine and Chernobyl to compile a diary of photographic images and oral histories of people affected by the disaster. Art Metropole exhibit and distribute artists books and multiples for further details e mail: [email protected] , Locus+ is an arts organisation based Newcastle upon Tyne, England that develops new strategies with visual artists for different contexts and across formats. Jon Bewley or Simon Herbert Locus+ 17, 3rd Fl Wards Building 31 - 39 High Bridge Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 1EW UK t +44 191 233 1450 f +44 191 233 1451 e [email protected] www.locusplus.org.uk