Being a cosmopolitan is awesome
I left the Old Continent 4 years ago. Since then, I visited Russia a couple of times, which is technically in Europe, but the mindset there is completely different from Western Europe, and more oriented toward North America.
Every now and then I have a glimpse onto the European contemporary culture, and every time this happens I am overwhelmed by the feeling of affinity, of belonging and longing for a future comeback. During such encounters, I am always thinking: "yes, yes! that's it! take me back!" And I probably should go back at some point, or at least renew my familiarity with the current state of affairs there. After all, I owe France and Switzerland a lot for the foundation of my upbringing, and should probably reinstate my allegiance to these countries. Nevertheless, North America should be my main residence and ground for action and reflection: contradictions and misunderstandings are a welcome challenge, and North American culture offers me a curious bridge onto Russian culture.
I am thrilled by the prospect of my future visit to Switzerland (Summer 2013). Geneva will be my base, and hopefully single-day travels across Europe will take place. I need to refresh my memory of that continent, and then go back to Canada, and also back in time, all the way back to the Middle Ages. I am already there with one foot, but my art "practice" keeps my other foot grounded in the contemporary, drags me back and leaves me perplexed about the future. This refreshing ability of contemporaneity is what I value most in art nowadays.
Every now and then I have a glimpse onto the European contemporary culture, and every time this happens I am overwhelmed by the feeling of affinity, of belonging and longing for a future comeback. During such encounters, I am always thinking: "yes, yes! that's it! take me back!" And I probably should go back at some point, or at least renew my familiarity with the current state of affairs there. After all, I owe France and Switzerland a lot for the foundation of my upbringing, and should probably reinstate my allegiance to these countries. Nevertheless, North America should be my main residence and ground for action and reflection: contradictions and misunderstandings are a welcome challenge, and North American culture offers me a curious bridge onto Russian culture.
I am thrilled by the prospect of my future visit to Switzerland (Summer 2013). Geneva will be my base, and hopefully single-day travels across Europe will take place. I need to refresh my memory of that continent, and then go back to Canada, and also back in time, all the way back to the Middle Ages. I am already there with one foot, but my art "practice" keeps my other foot grounded in the contemporary, drags me back and leaves me perplexed about the future. This refreshing ability of contemporaneity is what I value most in art nowadays.