Collection

  • Polina Kanis, Workout, 2011

Polina Kanis’ works are videos recording situations arranged by the artist, in which she raises socially relevant issues of upbringing, education, indoctrination, and the use (and abuse) of power. The artist sets up provocative situations and suggests strategies, but allows events to develop on their own, so many of her works tread the line between performance and artistic documentation. Workout is a video in which Kanis examines the current craze for aerobics and fitness in Moscow parks. She regards it as a bizarre hybrid of memories of totalitarian sport aesthetics, the Soviet ideal of harmonious physical development, and modern pop-culture fashion imported from Western cities. In her piece, the artist plays an aerobics instructor for senior citizens. She is commanding and forceful, and this “pleasure in the park” becomes an endurance test for those taking part. 

Year: 2011
Medium: video installation
Format: 11:51

Acquisition: purchase
Ownership form: collection
Source: Polina Kanis
Index: MSN: 4300-29/2012
Acquisition date:
Financing source: Purchased with the support of Ministry of Culture and National Heritage