Zero Line by Maryna Semenkova
Quantum Critic 23 - Myymälä2 Gallery, Helsinki, FinlandIn our contemporary art landscape, few artistic practices resonate with the global pulse quite like the practices of those who are brave enough to expose their wounds in a manner that truly touches people. In this text, I wish to draw your attention to the 'Zero Line' project by Maryna Semenkova, an embodiment of this concept.
Recently, her work was exhibited at Quantum Critic 23, Myymälä2 Pop-Up Gallery in Helsinki, Finland. Quantum Critic was a project developed by the curatorial team of Myymälä2 Gallery, led by Natasha Alekseeva, Timo Tuhkanen, Ramiro Camelo, and Asia Koltunova and aimed to build bridges of cultural exchange between Finland, Russia, the Baltics, and Ukraine. Over the course of three years, with support from the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture and the Finland-Russia Society, this project has materialised in both, the physical realm, through the Myymälä2 pop-up gallery and other spaces, and in the digital Metaverse space. In its final year, the exhibition brought together a group of artists who laid bare the open and still-fresh wounds of our contemporary world. From Ukraine to Palestine, the weighty context of their work and life experiences converged in a space marked by uncertainty yet underscored by togetherness. 1
One of the artworks presented in the exhibition was the 'Zero Line' art project by Maryna Semenkova, a Ukrainian artist whose work is firmly rooted in themes of 'ecofeminism and collective memory.' Since her departure from Ukraine on February 28th, 2022, her art has become an intimate reflection on the anguish inflicted by the war upon the Ukrainian people and, most profoundly, upon herself.
With 'Zero Line,’ Semenkova gives voice to a mother's anguish, her cries of despair, and the anguish of powerlessness as she struggles to deal with the loss of her son. In a video, the artist is seen knitting two flags, each representing Ukraine and Finland, two countries with different historical contexts and symbolism, yet both sharing a long border with Russia and both "home" for the artist at very different times and with different significance to her. The flags hang alongside the video that carries the intense voice of a mother who witnessed from afar her son's fight and sacrifice for their homeland.
Upon first encountering the two knitted flags, they may evoke a sense of comfort and warmth, as if inviting the visitors to wrap themselves in their cozy embrace. This symbolism is perhaps deliberate, offering a momentary respite within the work. Yet, as one delves deeper, the warmth gradually gives way to an emotionally turbulent narrative. The contrast between the initial comfort and the profound depth of the narrative creates a powerful impact. The act of knitting serves as a form of meditation, and the voice serves as a confrontation with overwhelming anguish, something one may never truly understand.
The installation was on display from September 29th to October 29th, culminating in a moving performance by the artist. During the performance, Semenkova invited visitors to sit with her, to listen to the raw and unfiltered voice of a grieving mother, and share in the collective experience of those who mourn for their loved ones, constrained by circumstances that grant them no freedom to decide their own fates.
At the end of her performance, after sharing the emotions she experienced and recounting the story of the Ukrainian refugee whom the artist met in Arles, France—a woman whose voice will resonate beyond the work—the artist reflects on her own mother and the practice of knitting as a means to escape from reality and alleviate pain. "I understand my mother now," she says.
Zero Line builds upon the RED UTOPIA project that Semenkova developed in Munich, Germany in 2022. RED UTOPIA once again combines the mediums of video, performance, and the act of knitting by the artist. The knitting of a red flag is documented in the video, and the performance involves unraveling the flag and transforming it back into yarn.
The project brings past fights for independence contextualising the independence of Ukraine in August 24th 1991 and the artist’s personal experience with the event.
“I was born in the Soviet Union. When it ceased to exist, I was 8 years old. I didn’t understand anything yet, but the people around me and my parents were in an inspired state. Everyone voted for the independence of Ukraine and there was a feeling that now we will finally live! And then the hard 90s began. It was impossible to buy clothes and food in the store, we grew vegetables ourselves, we also made clothes ourselves. In those years, I thought that life is so hard and that I need to be able to knit. So I took knitting lessons for 3 years. Afterwards, I didn’t do anything for myself”. (Semenkova, 2022) 2
In the Finnish context, the artist contextualises her work by creating a direct connection between Ukraine's fight for independence and Finland's historical experience, including the collapse of the Russian Empire a century ago and Finland's declaration of independence on December 6th, 1917. She also highlights the contemporary challenges posed by the aggressive policies of the Russian Federation, underscoring the potential risks faced by Finland today. 3/4
1: Quantum Critic 23, 30 September – 29 October 2023 at Myymälä2 pop-up space. 30 September 2023 – xxxx at metaverse space Spatial.io — https://www.myymala2.com/?page_id=8135
2: RED UTOPIA, September 15, 2022, Munich, Germany. Curator: Veronika Wagner. Duration: 77 hours in 22 days + 90 minutes — https://marynasemenkova.com/portfolio/performance/3/
3: Zero Line, December 9, 2022, Finland, Alajärvi, Nelimarkka-museo (Villa Väinölä). Curator: Oskari Luoma. Duration: November 6 – December 6 +60 minutes. —https://marynasemenkova.com/portfolio/performance/2/
4: Zero Line performance by Maryna Semenkova 29.10.2023 16.00-17.00 — https://www.myymala2.com/?p=8188