Couplings, 2018 - Wilfried Lentz Rotterdam : Wilfried Lentz Rotterdam

The project Couplings, 2018 by artist James Beckett runs like a thread through the group-exhibition Revolutionize at Mystestkyi Arsenal in Kyiv.

The exhibition marks the 5th anniversary of the Revolution of Dignity that took to the streets in Ukraine in 2013 – 2014. In anticipation of the permanent venue of the Museum of the Revolution of Dignity, the exhibition at Mystestkyi Arsenal presents an experimental and momentary model for the memorial museum.

James Beckett’s work is a reflection on the nature of the objects that were acquired during and right after the protests at Maidan square. Many daily objects were appropriated for defensive purposes, such as sporting goods as weaponry and domestic goods for armour. Many of these objects became part of the permanent collection of the Museum of the Revolution of Dignity.

The art work exploits several sets of different display – as still lifes – where every set uses one display of the original museum objects and the second display being a copy in consumer goods harvested by the artist and his helpers.

The research for ‘copy-elements’ of the work is tracing backwards towards the origins of some of the earlier sources of the ‘original’ objects, i.e. to look for objects which have an uncanny resemblance to the artefacts of the museum collection. Both in Kyiv, as well as shops abroad and online, such sources have included party shops, toy shops, office supplies and cosmetics.

‘Revolutionize’ is curated by Kateryna Filyuk and Nathanja van Dijk and running from 21.11.2018 – 27.01.2019 at Mystetskyi arsenal in Kyiv.

Click here to download the curators text on the work.