the tears of stalin

“silence. silence always talks of something else. silence is tension, expectation, charging. silence makes everything else talk - bodies, attitudes, expectations. the silence is never silent. the silence is a revocation, an act of refusal within public space, which usually cries for attention by images, labels, values.” claudia bosse

the tears of stalin - a visual intervention the letters THE TEARS OF STALIN are installed on the pedestal of the former monument on letná hill. a sign, a poetic-political irritation during the whole time of the festival, as a link to the history of the hill, the history of the world’s largest stalin monument and its detonation and demolition six and half years after its erection and domination of the city’s skyline, also remembering prague’s post 1989 revolutionary situation and its promises and expectations.

the explosion of silence I - a performative intervention hundreds of people from the letná hill steps all the way to the old town square, squatting the public space, the street, the sidewalk, the bridge, stopping the traffic. a silent chorus interrupts the dynamic of public space, concentrates it, claims it. after 50 minutes of silence the participants begin with a whispered multi-narrations about biography, identity and politics.

the explosion of silence II - an acoustic intervention a choreographic composition of siren-like sounds moving through urban space. the sounds are distributed by 9-12 speakers, mounted on top of 9-12 moving cars. claudia bosse created a score of moving sounds generated by milan guštar, composed of the interrelations of their tuning, rhythm and pauses. the urban composition will emerge from the intermingling of those tones, the sounds of the city and the movements of the mobile sound-carriers. they can be heard differently at different spots all over the city centre.

openings
tears of stalin - installation 16.06. - 26.06.2011, letna hill

explosion of silence I - urban intervention, from letna hill to the old town square, 21.06.2011, 5.00 pm to 6.00 pm

explosion of silence II - all over the old town of prague, 21.06.2011