По следам «Поп-механики» | Page 6

the method of collage to montage. This evolution aligns Sergey Kuryokhin with John Cage, another 20th century revolutionary, who transformed the idea of music, philosophy and art. Together with him Kuryokhin made the performance Water Symphony (1988) in Leningrad, and later dedicated to him one of his last compositions. Декорация Поп-механика. «С Новым годом!» Новые художники. Рок-клуб. 1985 Холст, акрил. Courtesy: Ксения Новикова, Архив The atmosphere of Popular Mechanics was largely determined by its inextricable link with the arts. The days of futurist opera Victory Over the Sun (1913) saw the New artists tearing up the collectively painted curtains on stage, the group founder Timur Novikov marching with huge inflatable dragon on his shoulders, Sergey Bugaev Afrika (elected as the President of the Globe) eating flowers, the Necrorealist group members crawling after their founder Eugeny Yufit, Yuri Tsirkul, wearing naval uniform, reciting his songs, Ivan Sotnikov and Oleg Kotelnikov performing solo on Utyugon… The image of Popular Mechanics changed over the time, from the dark humor of Dadaist scenes to post-ideological performances; from the futuristic costumes by Sergey Chernov, inspired by industrial landfills, to the heroes of ancient myths, played by artists from New Academy. По следам «Поп-механики» In the wake of Popular Mechanics exhibition not only represents exclusive archival materials: parts of the original stage decorations, costumes, and photos carefully selected from private archives and collections such as collection of Anastasia Kuryokhina, Sergey ‘Afrika’ Bugaev, and Timur Novikov’s archive, for example. The exhibition recreates the very soul of Popular Mechanics with its spontaneous unpredictability, total approach to the picture of the world and its carnival transformation. 6 Text: Olesya Turkina Тимура Новикова The Pop-mechanics decoration “Happy New Year!” New Artists group, Rock-club. 1985 Canvas, acryl. C