Project name: Testimony
Medium: Video
Duration: 9'00''
Year: 2020
Tags: #isolation #memory_loss #data_distortion
Credits: Ksenia Bashmakova, Julia Kirilenko, Anya Leonova, Sasha Salman, Misha Marushkin, Nastya Kamenskaya, Yakov Avlasovich, Polina Kanis, Andrey Kachalyan, Kirill Savchenkov, Gleb Napreenko, Borya Klyushnikov, Herman Orekhov, Artem Tsyplakov



The action of "Testimony" takes place in the abstract space of the modular meeting room. It is filled with details that, however, do not give any specifics.

First component of the work is the practice of hidden witnesses. This practice is closely linked to political cases and falsification of evidence based on false testimony. The identity of the hidden witness is not disclosed, communication with them is not direct, and usually without any visual contact. Such witnesses are figures without any personal characteristics, embodiment of averaging.

Second component is a technique of remembering information called a Roman room. Firstly you imagine a familiar interior and 10 objects in it. To each object you attach a fact that you want to remember. Now you are able to recall the fact by recalling the familiar object.

Script is based on questions from hidden witnesses' interrogations and detailed description of Roman room objects-triggers, which in this case took place of the information attached to them.

"Testimony" is about this feeling of void, when there’s nothing where you know there must be something.

Please write to kseny.bashmak@gmail.com if you want to watch video