In my work I begin with different processes and concepts that involve everything from the outwardly simple and banal to the more abstract and difficult to grasp.
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MINGEL OCH KONST- releaseparty! Tordag 4/3
Wellcome to Hakas studios 4/3, 19:00
> Nika Kukhtina presents:
“This project has been shot on film by the author in a slightly
pregnant state, in Russia as well as in Sweden. In Sweden, shots took place in the city of Uppsala, known not only by mention in The Wonderful Adventures of Nils, but also by its ob/gyn centre. I felt very cosy being pregnant in Uppsala. The same big-bellied creatures were wandering around. I must say that without a belly I would feel like I was missing something. The nine tales are, of course, both nine months, and nine stories: four Swedish, and four stories by Russian mothers. The ninth, a story told by myself, is a film.Russian and Swedish prospective (and new) moms were asked the same questions, such as «do you want a boy or a girl?», «are there are any signs that you believe in and follow during pregnancy?» and so on. Incidentally, the differences were fairly significant; the survey showed that Russia is closer to being an oriental country, with superstitions, traditions, mascots. As well as in the attitude to the «value» of a male heir: all interrogated Russian moms wanted a boy, while for Swedish mothers the sex of a child was not essential. Russian moms (as well as myself) were sure that, when leaving to give birth, it was necessary to open, for example, all the closets in the house, so that everything passed quickly and successfully, that the date of birth should be kept secret: the less people know about it, the easier it will be to give birth. The Swedish moms were perplexed; I had to explain to them what these «signs» were, they listened attentively, but then admitted that that there was nothing like that they have ever heard about. Well, except that they always communicate the date of birth with a two-week delay, so that annoying friends and relatives do not call with the same question: «Did you give birth already? Not yet? So when then? »But fortune-telling by the form of the abdomen was practiced by almost all future mothers.«9 tales» have been shown in the Moscow Museum of Modern Art during
the Moscow Biennale of Contemporary Art (curator project of HAKA group «Swedish Family») and now, nearly two and a half years later, come to Uppsala. And the small inhabitants of Bellies-2007 will also be able to come to the show.”
/Nika Kukhtina
