photo series and exhibition
PIROGOVKA IN TOUCH
archive + reconstructed visitor route


artist and curator: alisa lander

project mentor: o. kiryanova-gref

ABOUT

“Pirogovka in touch” is a project about tactility and the absence of distance within the walls of the Pirogov School (a.k.a. Pirogovka).

It is a story about a special and unique connection, trust, and closeness that are born within a shared physical space and continue to live on for many years beyond its boundaries.

The exhibition is a “chronological reel” — 36 photographs taken over the course of six months with a film point-and-shoot camera, accompanied by music from our playlists.

The project is dedicated to everyone who is saying goodbye to Pirogovka this year but remains in touch.


The exhibition opened on May 17, 2022, on the graduation at Pirogovka.

1.
in the hallway you see a large buzzling and blurry body of colors.
you get closer: the buzzing breaks into laughter — silly, hiccuping, flowing — snippets of tirades, skilled imitations of musical instruments, a bold crack of a shelled nut, a stream of languid interjections, thoughtful mooing in response to a well-argued discussion about the album [name/band name; album title; year], the squeak of rubber soles, the deformation of plastic disposable cups, a chorus of two or three voices singing the refrain from [song title; band name/frontman name; +album title].
the body moves.
it smiles. it fades into hug. it lies down on the sofa and, in a single inspired burst, sprawls out on the floor.
it changes blazers, shoelaces, and headphones.
it plays "the swan flew by." the seven-headed swan stretches its curious necks, looking over high shoulders at the glowing phone screen. the swan's tail shimmers with the colors of selective second-hand finds — water spills over the edges of the cups. water runs down the swan's necks and palms — the swan spot gathers at the cooler.
the body has not noticed you yet.
you adjust the viewfinder's wheel. you press the shutter button — flash — the bird can now see you.
2.
the bird sings your name.
your friends were waiting for you. they would call you every week and as well as answer the phone. they didn’t fill the space reserved for you with anything. they preserved it for you.
the swan spreads its wings. from them reflects the music of silver spokes, the music of waves and the music of the wind, kosmische musik, songs about nothing and a song about everything, Mochalkin blues, the blues of your river, Leningrad rock-n-roll, Moscow beat, and the troubadour's song.
the swan embraces you with its wings. the sleeves of your corduroy jacket are on your back, the curl of an aluminum earring is on your cheek, the dry curve of someone’s lips is on your forehead — the feathers of the seven-headed bird wrap around you and hide you inside.

and autumn dreams in the dim light of the glass:
friends and you in their jester's crowd.

you once again fill the space that has always been reserved for you.
~
LIPSTICK BONUS

these photographs were not included in the main exhibition but remain an emotionally valuable part of the project.

2022

Made on
Tilda