Radek. A Stefan Heym novel

Radek Retrospective

by David Riff

“…Irony has it that this video was actually shot twice. The first version was made by Dima Gutov, who added Pink Floyd’s music of Antonioni’s iconic movie “Zabrieski Point” (1969). The music comes to a climax when the young Radeks raise their flags. To the young Radeks, Gutov’s version seemed too spectacular, so they restaged the singular moment all over again, before showing the result at Manifesta 4 in Frankfurt…”
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Radek Invasion

“…One ironic action was presented at the Manifesta 4 in Frankfurt in 2002 when a video called Manifestation showed a strange demonstration filmed in Moscow the year before. For its action the Radek group had chosen the Barrikadnaya Underground station at the point where traffic lights regulate the flow of pedestrians on their way to work. Members of the group with slogans on red banners accompany the pedestrians as they cross the road, giving the impression of a real demonstration or manifestation. As they say themselves, all the features of a demonstration are visible – the crowds, the slogans, a street in the centre of the city and the blocked traffic. Marx’s idea about the self-knowledge of the revolutionary class appears in action!..”
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MANIFESTATIONS

Moscow. The Barricadnaya metro station. The pedestrian crossing on Sadovoye Koltso street. Every five minutes the lights turns green – it interrupts the continuous stream of cars and it lets pedestrians cross the street. In the morning you can see masses of people here, who are waiting for green light to cross the street, to reach their offices. Crossing takes a maximum of thirty seconds.
It is necessary to make several slogans on red cloth, and in the moment when green light flares unexpectedly, to unfurl them above the pedestrians’ heads, and reach the other side of the street with everybody.
You have to do it several times.
Effect. All indications of a demonstration are manifested: masses of people, slogans, a central street, traffic is stopped. Marx’s thesis about the genesis of the self-awareness of the revolutionary class, in action.

Shows, screenings and events Manifestations ever been at

2010
Agents & Provocateurs, HMKV at the Dortmund U, 14 May – 1 August

When one has to say ‘we’, European Institute, Saint Petersburg, 8 April -

2009

Transitland, Eastern Europe videos selection*, Sofia
On the eastern front, Ludwig Museum*, Cologne

2008

2007

Centre d’art contemporain, Pougues-les-Eaux

2006

2005

Disobedience, Kuenstlerhaus Bethanien, Berlin, 14 January – 27 February

Collective Creativity, Kunsthalle Fridericianum, Kassel

2004

Controlled democracy, White space gallery, London, 4 September
Privatisierungen, KW Institute for contemporary art*, Berlin, 16 May – 26 June

2003
??, IFA-gallery, Berlin

2002
Manifesta 4, Frankfurt / Main, June-September

Manifestations. Credit info

Manifestations by Radek Community

Artist: Radek Community
Title: Manifestations
Year: 2002
Media: dvd
Duration: 6′
Courtesy: Radek Community / Prometeogallery di Ida Pisani

Manifestations at Agents&Provocateurs show at HMKV, Dortmund

Manifestations by Radek Community at Agents & Provocateurs
HMKV at the Dortmund U,
14 May – 1 August 2010

An exhibition by Hartware MedienKunstVerein Dortmund in cooperation with the Institute of Contemporary Art – Dunaújváros (Hungary)
- in the framework of the festival scene:ungarn in nrw / 40. Internationale Kulturtage der Stadt Dortmund -

Opening: Friday, May 14, 2010, 18:00, basement under the U-Turm

Radek Community at Disobedience

Manifestations on Disobedience show at Radek Community / Disobedience East section,
Kuenstlerhaus Bethanien / Kustzentrum Kreuzberg,
Berlin, 2005. Curated by Marco Scotini