Anton Litvin
Has had solo exhibitions in various Moscow galleries (1994-2005) and participated in actions and performances (1993-2007). Participated in “Manifesta” (2002), the Prague Biennale (2003), the Venice Biennale (Russian pavilion, 2005, with the ESCAPE program) and special projects for the 1st and 2nd Moscow Biennales (2005, 2007), among others.
Anton Litvin is one of the few artists in Russia today who can match an interesting concept with a vivid, paradoxical visual solution in everything he creates. His works are surprisingly rich and holistic; they are puzzles for the mind and the eye. In his White. Grey. Black series, Litvin offers the viewer an intellectual dish sprinkled with political “pepper.” Seen from afar, Litvin’s photographs appear to be close-ups of exotic flowers. Upon closer inspection, they are flags in the wind, flapping and wrapping around the flagpole, then unwrapping. Litvin’s camera catches the flags at the exact moment when they are whimsical abstract sculptures; they become even more beautiful when you realize that each capricious form existed for a mere split second and will never be repeated. The flag in these black-and-white photographs looks like one solid color at first glance, but a closer look reveals that it is a tri-chromatic. Even then, we cannot say with certainty that the three gray strips make up the Russian tricolor until the artist himself says so. Then White. Gray. Black transforms into biting political commentary. By removing the color from the symbol of Russia, Litvin raises burning questions: What is Russia today? Do the fundamental concepts of democracy (liberty, equality and fraternity), represented by these colors first on the French flag and now on Russia’s, retain any meaning? Or has everything faded to gray? But one merit of Litvin’s project is that you can turn a blind eye to its politics if you desire.
Anna Matveeva
Белый. Серый. Черный. 2007. Серия черно-белых фотографий. C-принт. 100х100.; Anton Livtin. White. Gray. Black. 2007. A series of black-and-white C-print photos. 100 х 100 cm.
Белый. Серый. Черный. 2007. Серия черно-белых фотографий. C-принт. 100х100.; Anton Livtin. White. Gray. Black. 2007. A series of black-and-white C-print photos. 100 х 100 cm.
Белый. Серый. Черный. 2007. Серия черно-белых фотографий. C-принт. 100х100.; Anton Livtin. White. Gray. Black. 2007. A series of black-and-white C-print photos. 100 х 100 cm.
Белый. Серый. Черный. 2007. Серия черно-белых фотографий. C-принт. 100х100.; Anton Livtin. White. Gray. Black. 2007. A series of black-and-white C-print photos. 100 х 100 cm.
Белый. Серый. Черный. 2007. Серия черно-белых фотографий. C-принт. 100х100.; Anton Livtin. White. Gray. Black. 2007. A series of black-and-white C-print photos. 100 х 100 cm.
Белый. Серый. Черный. 2007. Серия черно-белых фотографий. C-принт. 100х100.; Anton Livtin. White. Gray. Black. 2007. A series of black-and-white C-print photos. 100 х 100 cm.
Белый. Серый. Черный. 2007. Серия черно-белых фотографий. C-принт. 100х100.; Anton Livtin. White. Gray. Black. 2007. A series of black-and-white C-print photos. 100 х 100 cm.
Белый. Серый. Черный. 2007. Серия черно-белых фотографий. C-принт. 100х100.; Anton Livtin. White. Gray. Black. 2007. A series of black-and-white C-print photos. 100 х 100 cm.
Белый. Серый. Черный. 2007. Серия черно-белых фотографий. C-принт. 100х100.; Anton Livtin. White. Gray. Black. 2007. A series of black-and-white C-print photos. 100 х 100 cm.
Белый. Серый. Черный. 2007. Серия черно-белых фотографий. C-принт. 100х100.; Anton Livtin. White. Gray. Black. 2007. A series of black-and-white C-print photos. 100 х 100 cm.
Белый. Серый. Черный. 2007. Серия черно-белых фотографий. C-принт. 100х100.; Anton Livtin. White. Gray. Black. 2007. A series of black-and-white C-print photos. 100 х 100 cm.
Белый. Серый. Черный. 2007. Серия черно-белых фотографий. C-принт. 100х100.; Anton Livtin. White. Gray. Black. 2007. A series of black-and-white C-print photos. 100 х 100 cm.
Белый. Серый. Черный. 2007. Серия черно-белых фотографий. C-принт. 100х100.; Anton Livtin. White. Gray. Black. 2007. A series of black-and-white C-print photos. 100 х 100 cm.
Белый. Серый. Черный. 2007. Серия черно-белых фотографий. C-принт. 100х100.; Anton Livtin. White. Gray. Black. 2007. A series of black-and-white C-print photos. 100 х 100 cm.
Белый. Серый. Черный. 2007. Серия черно-белых фотографий. C-принт. 100х100.; Anton Livtin. White. Gray. Black. 2007. A series of black-and-white C-print photos. 100 х 100 cm.