Two participants (N. Panitkov and A. Monastyrski), each individually, were informed on the day before that an action had been scheduled for the 9^th of May (both were asked to keep that in secret). On the designated day both were met in different places and time and guided to the scene: two concrete pipes (1.5 meters in diameter) tunneled parallel to each other through dirt fill of a broad suburban highway. 100 meters away from the scene the participants were told to put on black opaque goggles so that they had to walk hand-in-hand with organizers. Then they were seated on small folding chairs inside the pipes, facing remote exit holes sealed with black paper screens. The goggles were removed and the participants received instructions that prompted them to move forward. As soon as both had started (simultaneously and each inside his pipe), entrance holes were also sealed with black paper screens, so the participants had to move in thick darkness. The first to reach the opposite exit hole (the pipes’ length was 50-60 meters approx) was Monastyrski. On breaking the seal with his body and running outside, he noticed entrance to the other pipe on his right that was sealed with black screen with an inscription that said “Break the seal and get inside the pipe”. After doing so (and smashing the screen against the pipe’s floor) he rose and moved forward. A few steps in darkness, and he stumbled upon Panitkov who was moving inside the pipe from the opposite direction. The encounter was a total surprise for both.

Moscow region, Kurskaya railway line.

I. Makarevich, E. Elagina, N. Alexeev, G. Kizevalter, S. Romashko, N. Kozlov, M. Elagina.

ANDREY MONASTYRSKI. Preface to the second volume of Trips to the Countryside

MOSCOW CONCEPTUALISM