Mariupol
Among the innumerous Ukrainian cities attacked and destroyed by Russian aggression Mariupol probably suffered the worst: aim of heavy bombing from the first day of the war, for months under siege and finally, after a heroic battle of defense, fallen to Russian soldiers.
Today up to 90% of the formerly proud harbor city in Donbass is destroyed, many of its former citizens live in diaspora – the city Mariupol got cut off from the world. Mariupol became a symbol of the fierce resistance of the city against its aggressors, “Mariupol is Ukraine” became a well-known slogan throughout the world.
Mariupol – City of Hope?
How can we talk about hope when the present situation so obviously seems hopeless? When the dead of Mariupol are yet uncounted, when the number of Mariupol children who grow up without their parents is yet unknown, when the effort that it will take to free Mariupol is yet unimaginable? And still we would like to talk about hope, because hope is what we need most when circumstances are worst. Light is what we need most when the night is darkest. We would like to talk about hope because of the people of Mariupol, who, instead of being broken and desperate, keep on fighting, dreaming and planning for the liberation and resurrection of their home city.
“Among other works, Tolstikov presents his work “BLACKOUT” (Chipboard, soot, blow torch) as an abstract but powerful reference to the burnt building facades of Mariupol at ther exhibition.
The name “BLACKOUT” also refers to the fact, that after 28th of February, when the siege of Mariupol began, the city was completely cut off from the electricity, water, gas and signal for the next two months.”
28 chipwood boards painted with a ground soot, burned with a blowtorch and mounted on the wall as windows.
The image portrayed on these boards is one of the burnt building facades in Mariupol, the city that was completely destroyed and burned down by the Russian occupiers.
The 28th of February was the last day before the siege of Mariupol. From the first of March the city was completely cut off from the outside world. Any connection with people, loved ones was lost. The city remaind without any electrycity, water, gas and signal for several months.
Bathtub and a Reed
Bathtub from Mariupol serves as a tomb in the period of siege.
The siege of Mariupol started on March 1st and caused a lot of civilian casualties. People were burying their relatives, friends, and neighbors right in front of their houses, in yards, promenades, gardens, playgrounds, parks, and other places. This was the only way to deal with the already decomposing bodies under those severe conditions.
By now officially it was documented 87 000 civilian casualties.
‘Man is a reed, the weakest of nature, the most feeble thing in nature, but he is a thinking reed’ – Blaise Pascal
Apotheosis of ruzkiy mir
As of the end of 2022 it was officially documented 87 000 civilian casualties.
Drawings depict the endless fields of new mass grave sites in Mariupol.
The result of russian occupation, the substance of russian liberation and ruskiy mir (russian world).