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 near-by 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. And this goes beyond the courageous workers of Mayak Production Association and the “liquidators” on the response team in the 1957 incident, this is also about the residents of near-by 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 found photographs and records that shook me to the core. My intention is 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 memoires.

 

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 became permanent. 

 

The dorm building of the former secret Laboratory B

The dorm building of the former secret Laboratory B

 

 

 

The corridor building of the former secret Laboratory B

The corridor building of the former secret Laboratory B

 

 

 

Streets. Installation

Streets. Installation

 

 

 

Trinity. Fragment of the exhibition

Trinity. Fragment of the exhibition

 

 

 

Trinity. 2021. oil on canvas. 150х200

Trinity. 2021. oil on canvas. 150х200

 

 

 

The Spectacle. 2021. Fragment of the exhibition

The Spectacle. 2021. Fragment of the exhibition

 

 

 

Dollezhal’s matches. 2021. Installation

Dollezhal’s matches. 2021. Installation

 

 

 

Pu 239. Fragment of the exhibition

Pu 239. Fragment of the exhibition

 

 

 

Pu 239. Fragment of the exhibition

Pu 239. Fragment of the exhibition

 

 

 

Sphere. 2021. oil on canvas. 35х45

Sphere. 2021. oil on canvas. 35х45

 

 

 

Foundation Pit. 2021. 150x200

Foundation Pit. 2021. 150x200

 

 

 

Chocolates. Fragment of the exhibition

Chocolates. Fragment of the exhibition

 

 

 

Chocolates. Fragment of the exhibition

Chocolates. Fragment of the exhibition

 

 

 

Glossary. Fragment of the exhibition

Glossary. Fragment of the exhibition

 

 

 

Is not on the map. Fragment of the exhibition

Is not on the map. Fragment of the exhibition

 

 

 

EURT. 2021. Installation

EURT. 2021. Installation

 

 

 

EURT. 2021. Fragment of the exhibition

EURT. 2021. Fragment of the exhibition

 

 

 

The Relocated. 2021. Installation

The Relocated. 2021. Installation

 

 

 

The Relocated. 2021. Fragment of the exhibition

The Relocated. 2021. Fragment of the exhibition

 

 

 

The Relocated. 2021. oil on canvas. 24х30

The Relocated. 2021. oil on canvas. 24х30

 

 

 

Polar Lights. 2021. Installation

Polar Lights. 2021. Installation

 

 

 

Growth Rings. 2021. Installation

Growth Rings. 2021. Installation

 

 

 

Birch Grove. 2021

Birch Grove. 2021

 

 

 

Clean / Dirty. Installation

Clean / Dirty. Installation

 

 

 

Junub. 2021. Fragment of the exhibition

Junub. 2021. Fragment of the exhibition

 

 

 

Pigpen. 2021

Pigpen. 2021

 

 

 

The corridor

The corridor

 

 

 

Techa. 2021. Installation

Techa. 2021. Installation

 

 

 

Mural. 2021. Installation

Mural. 2021. Installation

 

 

 

Musliumovo. Consumer service house. 2021. oil on canvas. 100х150

Musliumovo. Consumer service house. 2021. oil on canvas. 100х150

 

 

 

Vivarium. Fragment of the exhibition

Vivarium. Fragment of the exhibition

 

 

 

Vivarium. 2021. oil on canvas. 100х150

Vivarium. 2021. oil on canvas. 100х150

 

 

 

Mushka (The Little Fly). 2021

Mushka (The Little Fly). 2021

 

 

 

Karyotype. 2021. Installation

Karyotype. 2021. Installation

 

 

 

Karyotype. Fragment

Karyotype. Fragment

 

 

 

ONIS. Laboratory. 2021. oil on canvas 100x150

ONIS. Laboratory. 2021. oil on canvas 100x150

 

 

 

ONIS. Lobby. 2021. oil on canvas 150x200

ONIS. Lobby. 2021. oil on canvas 150x200

 

 

 

Corridor

Corridor

 

 

 

Liquidators. 2021. Installation

Liquidators. 2021. Installation

 

 

 

Рeaceful Atom. 2021. acrylic on canvas. 120х80

Рeaceful Atom. 2021. acrylic on canvas. 120х80

Let the atom be a worker, not a soldier

 

 

 

Repository. 2021. oil on canvas 150x200

Repository. 2021. oil on canvas 150x200

 

 

 

Entrance to the installation Laboratory B

Entrance to the installation Laboratory B

 

 

 

Group "Hey Samara, start pumping". 1950s. Photo

Group "Hey Samara, start pumping". 1950s. Photo

 

 

 

— What's wrong? — Yura, look: everything shines there. 2021. Installation

— What's wrong? — Yura, look: everything shines there. 2021. Installation

 

 

 

Go to full screen view (click here) 

eng|рус