R.E.P. (Revolutionary Experimental Space) Group
R.E.P. (Revolutionary Experimental Space) Group was founded in Kiev in 2004 by young Ukrainian artists (Lesia Khomenko, Volodymyr Kuznetsov, Ksenia Hnylytska, Zhanna Kadyrova, Lada Nakonechna, Nikita Kadan), in reaction to the Orange Revolution. R.E.P. has chosen public space as the domain of its artistic experimentation. REP Group has been exhibited in Germany, Sweden, Poland, Turkey, Russia, Italy and Australia, as well as at the 2009 Prague Biennial and the 2005 Venice Biennial.
We will R.E.P. you!
by R.E.P. Group (2005, 11′)
Action, Kiev.
R.E.P. artists intervened on the territory of collision of communist and nationalist manifestations. The artists presented themselves as an independent political organization. The action led to a conflict between artists and nationalists.
R.Е.P. party
by R.E.P. Group (2006, 4′)
Action, Kyiv.
R.E.P. artists placed their tent between agitation tents of different Ukrainian political parties and promoted themselves there. Action took place on Independence Square in Kyiv during the time of parliamental elections campaign.
Broadening of mind
by R.E.P. Group (2005, 4′)
Action, Kiev.
In the action “Broadening of mind” R.E.P. made “advertisement show of modern and contemporary art” in a minibus on the streets of Kiev.
Untitled action
by R.E.P. Group (2005, 4′)
Action, Kiev.
R.E.P. made a political manifestation on an empty field outside of the city during the time of parliamental elections campaign.
Lirnyk
by R.E.P. Group (2006, 13′)
Performance, Kiev.
The performance took place during Kyiv Days of Performance Art. R.E.P. group invited a “lirnyk”, a folk musician and storyteller to tell about several well-known artistic actions and performances. He recapitulated performances by Marina Abramovitch, Joseph Beuys and Alexandr Brener in the traditional folk manner, playing lira.
Smuggling
by R.E.P. Group (2007, 11′)
Action, Ukraine-Poland border, 2007.
The action “Smuggling” took place on the checkpoint of the Ukrainian-Polish border. “R.E.P.” carried Russian petrol in rubber hot-water bottles under their clothes and Russian gas in balloons. The artists also filmed the everyday life of Ukrainian petty smugglers who bind cartons of cigarettes and rubber bottles with vodka to their bodies by sticky tape to carry it into Poland through the border.
Fast Art
by R.E.P. Group (2005, 9′)
Action, Coctebel.
Artists placed their tent on the bank of the Black sea between trade tents with food, drinks and souvenirs. In this tent they quickly produced pieces of “modern and contemporary art” and sold them for five hrivnyas each.