2015 » Russia » Student Section

Das Schloss in Franz Kafka House. An installation artwork.

Installation artwork by second-, third- and fourth-year students of Department of Stage Design of The Russian University of Theatre Arts (GITIS).

This exposition, created by GITIS students, centers on Franz Kafka's The Castle, one of the most mysterious philosophical novels of the last century. The exposition will be opened by an installation where visitors, including the online audience, will, together with our artists, develop their visual understanding of the novel's literary landscape for as long as three days. This will include the visualization of the novel's protagonists, as well as a graphical representation of locations such as The Castle and The Village. The discussion will culminate in an exhibition, updated daily and lasting for 6–8 days, which will be arranged in the form of a long tunnel or corridor – a representation of the protagonist's hopeless pursuit.

Kafka's novel does not fit into the traditional threefold structure, with an introduction, development and culmination. Instead, it is divided into smaller conceptual units corresponding to the stages of the main protagonist's life, his perception of the world and of his inner self in his way to God and Freedom. The 'infinite' model is correspondingly divided into smaller segments or portals and a long narrow stage, with a passage for the audience situated between them. The natural perspective of the portals will be reinforced by the scenes' gradual decrease in scale. New episodes and chapters will be created every day, developing and building upon previous parts. The exposition will change daily, with every artist taking it in turns to organize the show. According to the concept, the whole construction will head off into emptiness, creating the illusion of endlessness and lack of finality – unfinished, like The Castle itself.

The exhibition will include the participation of leading stage designers - Dmitry Krymov, Stanislav Morozov, Victor Arkhipov, Victoria Kharkhalup and Victoria Sevryukova – in several different workshops.