Irina Nakhova
12 SELECTED INSTALLATIONS 1994–2004
 |
 |
 |
 |
BIG RED
1998
Parachute silk inflatable, inflated: 150 x 500 x 150 cm, electronics, sound: «Disturbance of air space could lead to unpredictable consequences»
The exhibition by Irina Nakhova consists of only two objects.
Both are alive, interactive, curious, and a bit nervous; both cannot wait until they meet and move towards each other. One is Big Red, the other is Homo Sapiens. Big Red is actually big and red, resembling a zeppelin, a cucumber, an amoeba, a condom, a sock – depending on his activity status. Made of parachute silk, he either lies on the floor if nobody is with him, or inflates and floats towards whoever has trespassed on the invisible boundary
of his dwelling.
The creature’s creator, Irina Nakhova, has worked on interactivity for a long time. Her works are always very simple yet at the same time ambiguous. Technically, her objects are made at the same elementary level as psychological mechanisms that «move» the viewer.
Big Red inflates and drags towards whoever has encroached on his space, simultaneously ousting the source of his excitement. Action generates counteraction. It is one step from love to hate. Russian friendship strangles (foreigners can hardly understand this). Western reflex protects privacy (for which there is not even a word in Russian). Curiosity, aggression, fear – all in a single balloon. His secret is as simple as his electric circuit.
Serge Khripoun, 2004 (shortened version of «Are You Ready…?», first published in: Big Red, XL Gallery, Moscow, 2000)