Monumental Propaganda
New York: Independent Curators Incorporated, 1994. from a run of 7500. Paperback. Red, color-illus. card wraps with white lettering on red spine. 95 pp. full of bw images. Fine. Item #146387
ISBN: 0916365425
Catalogue from the touring exhibition of monumental statues of Soviet leaders and history, instigated by Komar & Melmid. Includes essays by 7 experts, a checklist of the works, and very brief biographical information about each artist represented. The focal point of the exhibition/catalogue is "to leave [the statues] at their sites and transform them, through art, into history lessons." Upon the dissolution of the USSR, many statues of the Soviet leaders were either destroyed or taken to statue graveyards (as in Budapest). Kolmar & Melamid propose creative changes/additions such as putting an enormous pigeon on Lenin's head or wrapping a noose around another's neck and leaving him dangling for all to see. A vicarious retaliation of sorts and a creative entree to a history lesson necessary for some aspects of Soviet life not to be repeated. An excellent catalogue.
Price: $29.97