Caravainicy, 2019

community-based research, performance

During the week of KONTAKT art residence, a group of participants studied archival data and interviewed cultural and educational workers, indigenous people and old-timers about the history, traditions, myths and local features of the village Novy Dvor, Belarus. The research revealed that the main image of local memory and the symbol of the place is a traditional part of the wedding ceremony. For a long time it was functioning, but the last decade has completely ceased to be reproduced. Many archival materials have been preserved in the village, including photos, educational works, paintings and the reconstruction for Soviet television.
With traditional costumes, vocabulary, route, the performance participants invited residents to their festival (Come to “Vyaselle”!) adapting the old rite to the present and experimenting with the semantics of words (“Veselie” – russian “festivity”, “Vyaselle” – belarusian “wedding”). This performance refers to collective memory, and uses adaptive reconstruction and participatory in working with the local community.