GODUNOFF

Pavel Kaplevich

January 20 — January 29, 2012
Gallery "Triumph"

The Godunoff Project is a series of works by Pavel Kaplevich based on Mussorgsky's most famous Russian opera, Boris Godunov, and the drama by Pushkin that underlies it.

In short, it’s "our everything," woven into fabric. "Weaved into fabric" isn’t figuratively speaking, but literally: Kaplevich works with "germinated" fabrics. The technology he uses is difficult to find an analogue to, and I can confidently say it’s original. I witnessed its development and the journey Kaplevich took from his first textile experiments to today’s exhibition. Let’s be honest, fifteen years ago, it resembled tapisieri, the home hobby of a prominent, successful theater figure. In theory, Kaplevich could have embroidered cross-stitch with the same passion (he's a true lover of everything). But he germinated fabrics—using a machine he invented.

Boyars No. 2
2011
Composite germinated
fabric, mixed media
68 × 48 cm

In short, it’s "our everything," woven into fabric. "Weaved into fabric" isn’t figuratively speaking, but literally: Kaplevich works with "germinated" fabrics. The technology he uses is difficult to find an analogue to, and I can confidently say it’s original. I witnessed its development and the journey Kaplevich took from his first textile experiments to today’s exhibition. Let’s be honest, fifteen years ago, it resembled tapisieri, the home hobby of a prominent, successful theater figure. In theory, Kaplevich could have embroidered cross-stitch with the same passion (he's a true lover of everything). But he germinated fabrics—using a machine he invented.

In 2007, Kaplevich worked with Alexander Sokurov on a production of Boris Godunov at the Bolshoi Theater. Currently, together with director Nina Chusova, he is producing Boris Godunov at the Samara Opera. The current project is a new concept, growing out of existing works. The exhibition includes one hundred works—from early sketches to finished costumes, from decorative theater backdrops to tapestries, which Kaplevich himself calls "portraits of the times."

"Godunov" will be a surprise to those who know Kaplevich as a socialite, a judge of television competitions, a studio guest, and so on. It will also be an equal surprise to those who know him as a theater designer.