1994
Architect's Plasticine, dust, glass, wood
Height 25

The Dusty Models, like all work by the artist, show intrinsic dualistism, which originates at the junction of two movements: metaphysics and conceptualism. On the face of it, the Dusty Models series is undoubtedly part of aesthetics of Moscow conceptualism. But the inherent value of a "dusty object", it being worthy of admiration and careful preservation (to preserve its integrity, the model is placed into a vacuum flask of greenish laboratory glass) are qualities typical of thoughtful concentration of metaphysical artists. Although awareness of the value of "emptiness", which has its logic of evolution in time and space, is more familiar to conceptualists. The "dusty treatment" invented by the artist is adequate in demonstrating his idea: to show the viewer something non-existent, catch and record a moment before the object disappears. The artist produced the Dusty Model series in 1994 for two exhibitions, which took place in Moscow at the XL Gallery and Aidan Gallery. The exhibitions took place concurrently, but the Aidan Gallery displayed completed models, which were miniature copies of "large" objects such as couch, wooden tower, sculpture pedestal, etc. Those at the XL Gallery had the "dusty" treatment applied adequately to the forms of objects, which were more abstract and conceptually not realistic.