Flies, angels and occasionally bees play a big role in the theatrical installations of Ilya and Emilia Kabakov. Coming of age in the Soviet Union, Ilya Kabakov has always considered himself a Soviet artist, even though he and his wife Emilia have lived in New York since the early 1990s. Beginning his career as a children’s book illustrator, his humorous approach shines through in his installation spaces. These are filled with found objects and texts that sound strange, mysterious and a bit odd (for example: ‘The Man Who Flew Into Space From His Apartment’). The installations allow the viewer to physically experience a heightened reality. Often, they give the impression that a missing occupant has just stepped out and might return at any moment. |
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In spite of his traumatic experiences of life in poverty under the degenerate Soviet regime, Kabakov's work creates a special world of its own, leaving the heaviness of socialist reality far behind. The documentary links the Kabakov’s installations with a look at everyday Russian life, which at times appears like an installation by the artists itself. A narrative by Ilya and Emilia Kabakov, based on texts from their installations, interlinks biographical and political aspects of the artists’ work. A smart, respectful film that elegantly conveys the prolific work of this unique artist couple. |
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Flies and Angels
Germany 2009, 93min. Video
Russian, English. Subtitles: English
Crew
Screenplay: Kerstin Stutterheim
Cinematography: Niels Bolbrinker
Sound: Manfred Herold, Christian Männer
Editing: Niels Bolbrinker
Production: Thomas Tielsch for Filmtank
Director
Niels Bolbrinker (Hamburg, 1951) studied Photography in Hamburg and graduated with a degree in Visual Communication. He began working as a cameraman in documentary films and continued his work in various TV productions. In 1978, he was one of the founding members of the Wendlaendischen Filmkooperative. Dr. Kerstin Stutterheim (Berlin 1961) is a professor at the Media Department of the HFF Potsdam-Babelsberg Konrad Wolf as well as a documentay filmmaker. |