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Revolutionary Experimental Space (R.E.P.)

In 2004, the R.E.P. (Revolutionary Experimental Space) group was born and, with it, a whole new art scene in Ukraine. They are a contemporary politically motivated artistic movement who occupy public space for carnivalesque performances and the collective includes a number of artists who have a varied body of work around more personal and universal issues.

History

Ukrainian artist group Revolutionary Experimental Space (R.E.P.) was founded in 2004 during the "Orange Revolution" in the Ukraine. R.E.P.'s work began with a series of actions and performances called "Interventions", which were developed in reaction to the politicised public space of the 'post-orange' Ukraine. The group’s subsequent activity has focused on long-term serial projects.

In their work, the R.E.P. group addresses a number of themes that are variously symptomatic of the current state of Ukrainian society – in its relations with the rest of the world and its internal problematics, which are considered universally. These include labor migration and the state of post-Soviet cultural institutions; social stratification and shared mythical images of prosperity; Soviet heritage and the simulation of Westernization, as in Eurorenovation; popular demand for a certain type of art and the individual responsibility of the artist. In recent years the group’s practice has involved conceptualizing its existence as a community.

The group has produced a variety of projects from installations, objects and images to those in the public sphere. These have been symbolic and participatory. One example was the action that took place in Majdan Square in 2005 on the anniversary of the October Revolution and was entitled 'We will R.E.P. you'. It was held in the central square of Kyiv when two large groups were gathered. One was a group of communists (dominated by the colour, red), and the other was a group of Ukrainian nationalists (with lots of blue and yellow). The artists, dressed entirely in black and white but with jumpsuits, capes, goggles pointed hats and facemasks, entered the square banging drums, chanting slogans and waving signs that promoted art and beauty and supported Andy Warhol, their leader for the presidency. They were not promoting any particular political agenda but their presence did cause disorientation by the public and political groups. However, the fact that they appeared on Majdan Square, gave their actions political significance and ultimately their art achieved it's goal of revealing and challenging conflict.

Artists

In 2004 the group included artists Olesia Chomenko, Ksenia Hnylycka, Mykyta Kadan, Zanna Kadyrowa, Wolodymir Kuznecow and Lada Nakoneczna

Since 2006 the R.E.P. group’s members are Ksenia Hnylytska, Nikita Kadan, Lesia Khomenko, Volodymyr Kuznetsov, Zhanna Kadyrova, Lada Nakonechna.

Exhibitions and publications

R.E.P.’s work began with a series of actions and performances called “Interventions”, which were developed in reaction to the politicized public space of the 'post-orange' Ukraine.

A publication was produced in 2015 entitled 'R.E.P.: Revolutionary Experimental Space' which presented the work over 10 years