Curator: Lyubov Shaks

Artist: Maria Arendt

Chastushkas could have been called Russian haiku were they not so shamelessly obscene.

Silent raven in a quiver
On a birch upon a river
......................
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An innocent, somewhat meditative scene pictured the first two lines does little to prepare you for the grotesque finale. A good lesson of humble contemplation: never say you know what is happening in the next moment. The embroideries by Maria Arendt are named by first lines of well-known chastushkas. Similarly to those little poems, they are fraught with surprise and ready to ridicule those who judges from the first impression. They look simple to the degree of minimalism, but that is because they do not tell the whole story. Those who know, know. Some may smile and exchange glances, some pull a face of indignation. It is, however, wise not to overreact. It is as simple as that:

Fish in thick tomato sauce
Floats in happy comatose.
Only me, pathetic whimp
Have no f***g place to swim