An exhibition, open at the Contemporary Arts Center at Bolshaya Yakimanka 6 till 20th November, demonstrates Boris Yukhananov and Yuri Kharikov's project, "Garden".

This was created as a result of staging Anton Chekhov's drama, "The Cherry Orchard" and unites theatre, an actor's performance, video, television, photography, cinema, classical ballet, art objects and costumes.

The fragment of "Garden" presented at the Shkola (School) Gallery includes elements of scenography, the costumes or "Cherry Orchard" characters and video material (about 300 hours of VHS), which document the 3-year history of the project, and viewers may watch a video version of the Kratovo Mysteria, when Chekhov's play was staged during the course of two whole days and two nights. Here, according to the opinion of the organisers, Garden achieved its fullest realisation.

The brilliant and unusual acting of Yukhananov, and the fantastic costumes and bizarre scenery on the video will hold your attention, at least for a while. The collection of costumes for "Garden", created by Yuri Kharikov, will surpise the visitor with their novel forms, reminiscent of growing plants and blossoms, and realised in expensive textiles — silks, velvets and chiffons.

This particular play of Chekhov's was chosen by the creators because of its unique qualities, — because, so they say, it was created between life and death, and is full of predictions concerning the future late of Russia and even of mankind.

"Garden" has no past and future. "Time doesn't exist there, in this eternal magic space — to create which was our main aim," said Yukhananov in the interview at the opening ceremony. The exhibition is open at the Shkola Gallery at the Contemporary Arts Centre at Bolshaya Yakimanka 6, from noon till 5 p.m. daily except Saturdays and Sundays till 20th November.

The Moscow Tribune 1992