In the book "Black Skin, White Masks," philosopher Frantz Fanon concludes that even detached observation of injustice leads to mental disorders. Fear, anger, powerlessness—these are the emotions we experience today. Simultaneously with the world, rhetoric changes: words lose their original meaning and take on new meanings, giving reality a schizophrenic character. "Don't Be a Menace to South Central in the Mind of Someone Living" is a performative act of co-creation, representing a blend of different emotions. All depicted characters smile, the canvas is filled with bright colors, but at the same time, the viewer already knows: something terrifying is before them. A collaborative work with artist Nariman Kalashnikov.

Text by Zlata Pavlovskaya
Exhibition Curator: Locked UP!


2023