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AES+F - video (QuickTime)

AES + F: Action half life

On Thursday, the 25th of May 2006 at 9pm, we have opened Action half life exhibition by the Russian art group AES+F (Tatjana Arzamasova, Lev Evzovič, Evgenij Svjatski in Vladimir Fridkes).
AES + F they come from Moscow and are at the moment one of the most intriguing and provocative art groups in the world.
The exhibition was opened until the 17th of June 2006.

What is heroism in our times, when war, exploits, and pathos are just a part of a virtual show endlessly dissipating into mass circulation? Our show is total starting from its well-structured 3D computer games, its powerful Hollywood effects so wonderfully spent on saving private Ryan, its gala parade of Maximus' triumph in the Colosseum and ending with its especially selected TV reports from unknown and faraway places with exotic names.
Our heroes are teenagers emerging from the most "heroic" of life's phases. The teenage moment is the moment when a young shepherd can take heart and gain victory over a hulking giant and when an abandoned child can find the inner unction to extract the magic sword out of a rock to become king, vanquishing all enemies. All of our young heroes are conquerors in the virtual world. Their enemy is absent, and pain and suffering are forbidden by the very nature of the game. They are so alienated that nothing, not even their common virtual battlefield, inhibits their giving themselves over to pure personal exploit, to securing victory over an enemy that does not exist. The driving concept behind our art is our perpetual attempt to precipitate the "genome of heroism" out of today's world of glimmer reality.
Our title, ACTION HALF LIFE, is the name of real computer game. Our heroes are teens carefully cast from among more than 500 top applicants who had first been screened by the best of modelling agencies. The landscape for this project is the Sinai desert, which so rightfully deserves its selection as the main set of the next Star Wars episode. The armaments are specially crafted 3D mash blasters and instruments of other famous technologies that have been well-tested and proven in previous virtual wars.

About: AES & AES+F GROUP
ARZAMASOVA, TATIANA
Was born in 1955 in Moscow, graduated from Moscow Architectural Institute (MARCHI) – State Academy in 1978. Lives and works in Moscow. Was occupied in conceptual architecture. Award winner ‘Grand-Prix’ of a jointly OISTT and UNESCO competition ‘Theatre of Future’. Participated in conceptual architecture exhibitions in London, Paris and Venice.
EVZOVICH, LEV
Was born in 1958 in Moscow, graduated from Moscow Architectural Institute (MARCHI) – State Academy in 1982. Lives and works in Moscow. Was occupied in conceptual architecture. The OISTT competition Prizewinner ‘The Tour Theatre’ in Stockholm. Participated in conceptual architecture exhibitions in Milan, Frankfurt-on-Main, Paris.
SVYATSKY, EVGENY
Was born in 1957 in Moscow, graduated from Moscow University of Printing Arts (department of the book graphic arts) in 1980. Lives and works in Moscow and New York. Was occupied with book and advertising design, poster and graphic art. Participated in international poster competitions, exhibitions of book illustration and design, graphic art.
FRIDKES, VLADIMIR
Was born in Moscow in 1956, lives and works in Moscow. Works as photographer of fashion. Published in magazines: VOGUE, Harper’s Bazaar, ELLE, Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, Sunday Times Style and others. Collaborates with AES group since 1995.

Artists united as AES group in 1987. AES group collaborates with photographer Vladimir FRIDKES since 1995 (AES+F group).

You can find out more on:
www.aes-group.org
aes.zhurnal.ru