Greetings dear reader, my name is Arkadi, I am a
contemporary artist and I create free galleries of contemporary art from banana
boxes, I hold my own exhibitions in them, and I help other contemporary artists
to exhibit. One of my goals in this project is that every free contemporary
artist in the world can build my (his) banana galleries of contemporary art and
exhibit current contemporary art in any place where he sets it, including in
the best locations of the city, because this is a pop-up gallery and can
quickly assemble absolutely anywhere in a quick time. This gallery can be built
both in places surrounding a person in everyday life to which he is accustomed
and where he doesn't expect to see this building. The idea of this banana
gallery is in its freedom, there is no bureaucracy in it, and it is free from
all stereotypes, frameworks and imposed terms. My other goal is to improve the
interaction of people with each other, because in the modern world the
communication is increasingly moving into the virtual area, and I want to
create an environment in which the viewer actively communicates and
participates in what is happening. Guests spend hours looking at banana boxes,
because they are from different countries and different times. At the Banana
Gallery openings, people feel free and uninhibited and live communication takes
place. Spreading the concept of a free gallery, I try to build situations in
which human relationships are possible contrary to the laws of the market
economy and are based on mutual interest, friendship, empathy. I like to build
a project in favor of modeling a system of relationships, within the framework
of an exhibition situation in which the viewer is invited to participate as an
accomplice in the process. By building the practice of hospitality and
developing this project, it is possible to encourage people to have closer
social relationships. This project also serves as an example of how secondary
materials can be used to create art. Such an approach to creativity can become
part of the movement to preserve the environment and encourage other artists to
use environmentally friendly materials and to be more responsible towards the
environment. The usage of already used materials in art can also be a symbol of
respect for the past and cultural heritage, as well as a way to emphasize the
problems of consumption and emissions in modern society. In general, the
philosophy of using used materials in art contributes to a more sustainable and
responsible lifestyle. Banana Gallery is a place for independent artists, their
friends and casual passersby who can become friends or even artists. Art is an
occasion to talk, exchange opinions, discuss, drink together and enjoy life. Banana
Gallery frees everyone: gallery owner, curator, artist, and viewer. Delacroix
depicted Freedom on the barricades. Today, Freedom has settled in a pavilion
made of banana boxes. Banana Gallery is a special zone where the line between
art and life is blurred. Any item entered into it and left inside can be
considered a work of contemporary art. Banana Gallery is a fusion of art and life.
