One of the largest and most popular artworks that were presented within the framework of the Art Public sector of Art Basel Miami Beach was mixed-media installation and performance “The Great Vodka River” by Russian artist Fyodor Pavlov-Andreevich.
Fyodor Pavlov-Andreevich has conceived a scaffold-like structure the artist considers as related to constructivist ideas of the 1920s and later 20th century responses to constructivism, such as the Centre Pompidou. The structure houses an aluminum gutter in which the vodka river is channeled down. The vodka rushes downwards, following the winding of the stairs. The text handwritten by the artist on the sidewalls of the gutter is from the storyline Fyodor Pavlov-Andreevich has invented for the project. It involves a the weeds, bacteria, fish, animals, and nymphs that inhabit the Great Vodka River.
VernissageTV documented the project during a performance that was part of the work and that took place each day of the presentation at Art Basel Miami Beach. The “Nymphs of the Great Vodka River” perform a ritual that involves descending the stairs with empty aluminum buckets and ascending them again with buckets filled. The above video is an excerpt, the full-length video (14:00 min.) is available after the jump.
Fyodor Pavlov-Andreevich: The Great Vodka River. Installation / performance, presented by Luciana Brito Galeria, Sao Paulo, Art Public, Art Basel Miami Beach. Collins Park, Miami Beach / USA, December 4, 2010.
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Full-length version (14:00 min.):