Ringing Trace

The Geiger counter alerts the user of elevated radiation levels by making a sound signal or clicking. Russian nuclear experts commonly refer to it as “ringing.” Radiation is emitted in the process of radioactive decay. Whereas it is invisible, and cannot be sensed or recognized without specialized instrumentation, radiation can have destructive effects on nature and human health. New types of weapons and the threat of nuclear war in the 20th century acted as the grim force that played a critical role in shaping the political map of the world. A force that brought down entire cities and brought about entire new cities as well. Harnessing this force came at a huge price in the middle of the past century. The traces of the atomic 20th century remain “ringing” to this day.

The Soviet Atomic Project was implemented here, in the Southern Urals. This was where the Soviet Union built its first reactor to produce weapons-grade plutonium and where it developed its first nuclear bomb. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, it was paramount to achieve nuclear parity with the US at any cost, so radiological protection was not the primary concern. High-level waste was dumped into open-air storage facilities on the Techa River, with tens of thousands of people living along its banks. Since the activities were top secret, people were not aware of the hazards: they kept using the river water for cooking and farming exposing themselves and their families. In 1957 a waste facility exploded at one of the plants, causing vast harm comparable with the gravest nuclear catastrophes of the 20th century. In 1967 wind lifted and disseminated radioactive waste stored in Lake Karachay, irradiating dozens of nearby towns.

I see the history of the Soviet Atomic Project in the Urals as dauntingly far-reaching. Moreover, much information related to nuclear production is still classified. Closed towns are still closed. The locals either withdraw from communication altogether or limit what memories they share with great caution.

This exposition is about the price paid by the people who, for various reasons, were involved in the Atomic Project and experienced its consequences. In their case, the price was paid with their health and lives. This goes beyond the courageous workers of the Mayak Production Association and the “liquidators” on the response team in the 1957 incident, this is also about the residents of nearby towns exposed to high doses of radiation, about every displaced person who had to take off and relocate. I dedicate this exhibition to them.

The exposition is designed as a museum. The exhibits are select-founded photographs and records that shook me to the core. I intend to allow the uninformed viewer to piece together the sections of the exhibition and grasp the big picture on their own.

The exhibition venue, too, is directly linked to the Atomic Project. It occupies the company dormitory of the secret Laboratory that studied radiobiology and new isotopes. The Laboratory employed Russian scientists picked out from imprisonment, hired experts, and interned German specialists.

This exhibition is based on publicly available research and memos.

The art residency program in the Chelyabinsk Region, organized under the aegis of the 6th Industrial Biennal of Contemporary Art (2021)

Art residency team:

Curated by Vladimir Seleznev
Produced by Anna Akimova
Coordinated by Aleksandra Bormotova and Arina Pshenichnaya
Evgeny Sevostyanov as technical director
Anton Kukarkin as technical specialist

Since 2022 the exhibition has become permanent.