Forest Means Cheaper. Solo Exhibition of Alexey Salmanov

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PinchukArtCentre introduces the solo exhibition of Ukrainian artist Alexey Salmanov. Forest Means Cheaper is a new work that is based on performance, which took place in Manhattan, in summer 2012.

Alexey Salmanov comments his project, “Its plot is based on the history of Manhattan, which was bought by Europeans from Indians for a handful of beads worth 24 dollars. I came to New York City with a commercial offer: to buy this gigantic island for 25 monetary units, this time for Chinese yuan. I made a poster with a slogan ‘Will Buy Manhattan for 25 Yuan’ and walked with it through the busiest Manhattan streets.” This provocative gesture turned into an interesting experience of introspection for the artist. Later it was balanced by series of actions: symbolic purchase of Manhattan from a New Yorker and giving it back to the Indians in person of a local Native American.

Installation Forest Means Cheaper is placed in two rooms. Project’s concentrated archive occupies the first room. Photo and video documentation of the performance, objects from the scene and symbolic items invite viewers to make a reading effort. On the contrary, the video projection in the second room provokes contemplation and refers to the cyclicity of time and space.

The exhibition will last until March 17.