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Date
Title
Source
Description
Tags
W3671
15.05.2011
Before The Gates Of Our Vacant Future - Joseph Shaeffer
WWW
Project initially proposed for the Garage Center For Contemporary Culture in Moscow, Russia which is housed in the historic Bakhmetevsky Bus Garage designed by Konstantin Melnikov in 1926. “Before the gates of our vacant future.” Thus reads the ope ...

Project initially proposed for the Garage Center For Contemporary Culture in Moscow, Russia which is housed in the historic Bakhmetevsky Bus Garage designed by Konstantin Melnikov in 1926.

“Before the gates of our vacant future.” Thus reads the opening line of the Constructivist Manifesto, written in 1920 by Russian artist Naum Gabo. This quote could just as easily be applied today in regards to GCCC’s mission to thrust contemporary art in Russia towards the future.

The basis of this installation is the de-construction of the Constructivist Manifesto in order for it to be re-constructed into a three dimensional object. This de-construction is executed by breaking the manifesto down into sentence diagram form. These diagrams can now be used as building elements in the construction of a large gate. This gate will have a two-fold purpose: to be a physical manifestation of the constructivist principles put forth by the manifesto and to serve as a symbolic gateway for contemporary art in Russia from this point forward.

The gate itself will be made up of 5 white, open- faced cubes with a measurement of 12 feet each. These cubes are stacked 2 high and spaced to form either side of the gate with the fifth cube being suspended between the 2 uppermost cubes to form a gateway. On the face of each of these cubes will be placed a sentence diagram which is laser cut from stainless steel and alternately colored black and red.

This project encompasses historical elements of Russian art and the Constructivist principles employed by Konstantin Melnikov upon which the actual Garage building was designed as well as documenting the more contemporary process of de-construction.

Included here is a sampling of some of the fifty sentences in diagram form.

Project initially proposed for the Garage Center For Contemporary Culture in Moscow, Russia which is housed in the historic Bakhmetevsky Bus Garage designed by Konstantin Melnikov in 1926. “Before the gates of our vacant future.” Thus reads the ope ...

Project initially proposed for the Garage Center For Contemporary Culture in Moscow, Russia which is housed in the historic Bakhmetevsky Bus Garage designed by Konstantin Melnikov in 1926.

“Before the gates of our vacant future.” Thus reads the opening line of the Constructivist Manifesto, written in 1920 by Russian artist Naum Gabo. This quote could just as easily be applied today in regards to GCCC’s mission to thrust contemporary art in Russia towards the future.

The basis of this installation is the de-construction of the Constructivist Manifesto in order for it to be re-constructed into a three dimensional object. This de-construction is executed by breaking the manifesto down into sentence diagram form. These diagrams can now be used as building elements in the construction of a large gate. This gate will have a two-fold purpose: to be a physical manifestation of the constructivist principles put forth by the manifesto and to serve as a symbolic gateway for contemporary art in Russia from this point forward.

The gate itself will be made up of 5 white, open- faced cubes with a measurement of 12 feet each. These cubes are stacked 2 high and spaced to form either side of the gate with the fifth cube being suspended between the 2 uppermost cubes to form a gateway. On the face of each of these cubes will be placed a sentence diagram which is laser cut from stainless steel and alternately colored black and red.

This project encompasses historical elements of Russian art and the Constructivist principles employed by Konstantin Melnikov upon which the actual Garage building was designed as well as documenting the more contemporary process of de-construction.

Included here is a sampling of some of the fifty sentences in diagram form.