Non testatum
The artist Denis Prasolov, co-authored with architect and curator Anna Ilina, presents the artifacts found in the warehouse of military medical equipment in St. Petersburg.
The central object of the installation is sculptures created using medical ducks — a symbol of a social disease zombiated by the media. Ducks swim regularly, like on orders. This supposed order makes fun of society’s obedience to the rules dictated by propaganda in newspapers and on television. The name of the installation refers to one version of the origin of the phrase «gas duck». The authors ' reports, which lacked reliable sources, were signed by N.T. in some old English newspapers. — Abbreviation from «Non testatum» (lat. «unconfirmed»). The abbreviation is pronounced «en-tae», which is in line with the German word Ente, «daughter». The authors emphasize the problem of escapism, conscious or subconscious flight from reality, leading to the popularization of the yellow press and entertainment media.
The viewer, following the black thread in the exhibition, can conduct an investigation on his own, study the clippings from the Soviet, Russian and European newspapers, and follow the yellow, learn about the project and the team of its creators. The authors thus defeat the illusion of free choice in the use of information and the fact that the yellow track is intended to draw attention to selected fragments or divert attention from truly significant events.
