SNEGUROCHKA. form of conflict
“SNEGUROCHKA. form of conflict” by ArtMix is a new cross-artform project based on the ideas of minimalism and postdramatic theater. This is a play, a public performance and art object at the same time. Through the lens of ancient folklore legends the project explores phenomena of love and dislike as two polar notions.
SNEGUROCHKA. form of conflict
The project is based on reconsideration of Snegurochka (Snow Maiden) – slavonic folklore character. In modern culture Snegurochka is percepted as a nice fairy tale girl. But this image has been transformed through history and started from a scary entity that brings cold, curse and disaster.
According to Nikita Kaigorodtsev, the Director of the project, Snegurochka is a dark outer energy, a symbol of dislike. We all face it one day and have to make a choice. Whether to find inner strength of love, or to give up and stay in a dark state of dislike.
The project is based on laboratory explorations of the performers via their physical presence and behavior. Inside a transparent museum showcase actors of different age, gender, nationality, religion, sexual orientation appear one by one. They appear alone, in pairs and in groups. They establish contact with themselves and with their partners. Some of them experience love, others – dislike.
The project has two parts. Fragment part takes place in public areas: shopping malls, parks, playgrounds, healthcare clinics, libraries, etc. Different performers at different venues are exposed during a certain time in order to draw attention of publics and to start their own laboratory explorations.
Final part is played at a theatre stage. All actors are exposed one by one in the showcase. There are two acts. At the first act performers are in the state of love. At the second – in the state of dislike. The catharsis takes place outside the performance, but the very concept of it plays a vital role as some participants come to it, and some do not as the result of their inner work and explorations.
