Performance: "Autumn Gestures of Anger. In Memory of Lidia Blinova". Exhibition "Song of the Postman"

On the floor, covered with plastic wrap, are five metal pedestals with wooden discs glued to them using clamps. On these pedestals, cabbage heads rest. There is also a metal barrel, two televisions, a video recorder, and a grand piano.

The artist, looking at the video screens showing the "Cutting the Back of My Head" video, from time to time approached the pedestals and busily removed layers from the heads with a large cleaver. Bachyt Amanzhil (composer) improvised music on the piano, while Saule Suleimenova (artist and actress) read Lydia Blinova's poem "To the Head" (attached text). Almagul Menzbayeva, moving rapidly in the hall, creating new heads that were precisely cut by Khalfin, then put them all into the barrel. Khalfin covered the mountain of leaves with a lid, carefully expressing oppression through his body by jumping up and pressing all his weight on the lid. From the text to the performance written by Khalfin, it follows that the story was co-authored with Lidia Blinova, who is the artist's wife and alter ego. Chopping off the heads is both a preparation for winter and a playful analogue of the sculptor's action, removing all unnecessary things and creating a parody of a deconstructed alley of heroes. The project's inspiration was the Anna Himmelstrand stamp "Unknown Women." The performance took place during the Postman's Song exhibition. An open letter addressed to Valery Porog formed part of the communication project.

The cabbage-shaped alley is a symbol of anonymity, which corresponds to the "Unknown Woman." /// "Autumn Gestures of Anger" tries to transform tragic personal experiences into art. It is an effort to overcome grief by an action conceived together. It extends the life of those who have passed away within the space of creation. The artist's actions provoked passionate disagreement from Anne Himmelstrand, who rushed to each sculpture and threw walnuts at the sculptor. The situation, unexpected by the artist, has strained the atmosphere of the event to the limit. Two moral perspectives have collided regarding the conflict between personal, social, existential, and artistic values. People were silent.

Participants: Bakhtiar Amanzholov, Almagul Menlibayeva, and Saule Suleimenova from Stockholm, as well as Anne Himmelstrand.

You can view the works and photos of the exhibition on our website by following the link.