Embrace: A Site-Specific Art Project by Supernova Art Embassy

Exploring the Concept of Coming Home Through Art

Embrace is a site-specific art project that beautifully captures the emotional concept of coming home. Created by Supernova Art Embassy, this project pays homage to the story of a soldier from the 170th Sterlitamak infantry division and his promise to return to his wife with his silver pocket watch. After 74 years, his remains and personal belongings were found, and the soldier finally came home, just as he had promised.

The Embrace project stands out for its unique approach to complex contexts and topics. The word "memorandum" translates to "something you have to memorize" in Latin, and this project is dedicated to preserving and commemorating important moments in human lives. The Sterlitamak stage of the project, titled "Coming Home," reflects the curator Lidiia Averina's personal connection to her hometown and the emotional aspects of the concept.

The artistic realization of Embrace involved meticulous attention to detail and historical accuracy. Activists and artists worked together to ensure the project's authenticity, basing their works on historical data and archive photographs. The artistic part of the project was brought to life using facade paints and paint rollers, with the assistance of facade lifts (scaffolds) for work at heights.

The Embrace installation spans an impressive height of 27 meters and a width of 15 meters, covering a total artistic painting area of 405 square meters. Its prominent location on one of the main streets of Sterlitamak ensures high visibility to passersby, including students and pedestrians. The proximity to the former headquarters of the 170th Sterlitamak infantry division adds historical significance to the artwork.

The Embrace project was completed in 2020, in time for the 75th anniversary of the Great Victory. The implementation period lasted 1.5 months, with the artistic work taking three weeks. The project faced challenges in selecting the four locations that would best represent the historical connection to the old town. However, the artists and curator successfully found common ground and created a harmonious representation of the concept of "coming back."

Embrace is not only a visually stunning artwork but also a testament to the power of memory and heritage. It captures the essence of the town's history and invites viewers to reflect on the significance of coming home. Through its thought-provoking design, Embrace sparks conversations and evokes a sense of nostalgia and appreciation for the past.

Embrace has been recognized for its excellence and innovation in the field of fine arts and art installation. In 2021, it was awarded the Iron A' Design Award, which honors well-designed, practical, and innovative creations that meet professional and industrial requirements. This prestigious accolade acknowledges Embrace's integration of industry best practices, competent technical characteristics, and its contribution to a better world.


Project Details and Credits

Project Designers: Dmitry Kudinov
Image Credits: Image #1: Photographer – Dmitry Kudinov, Embrace #1, 2020. Image #2: Photographer – Dmitry Kudinov, Embrace #2, 2020. Image #3: Photographer – Dmitry Kudinov, Embrace #3, 2020. Image #4: Photographer – Dmitry Kudinov, Embrace #4, 2020. Image #5: Photographer – Dmitry Kudinov, Embrace #5, 2020. Video Credits: Dmitry Kudinov, Hyperlapse, Embrace and Shihans from bird’s-eye perspective, 2020.
Project Team Members: Curator: Lidiia Averina Artist: Andrey Olenev Support: Dmitry Kudinov, Alexey Agafonov, Ludmila Averina
Project Name: Embrace
Project Client: Dmitry Kudinov


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