By the Oudezijds Achterburgwal Canal, Amsterdam. Vladimir Balabnev, 2003, colour photo, 29 x 44 cm. Where is the law, where is the lawlessness? (Images reproduced with the author’s permission.)
Vladimir Balabnev is one of the most admired photographers on the other side of our border to the East. Paradoxically, his work is not very well known in Estonia, the land of his birth.
Born in Tallinn in 1966 and still using his Red Passport, he has been working as a commercial photographer in St. Petersburg for almost ten years, (most frequently with the Bulthaup company), and jets back and forth to Tallinn.
It was in his favourite city of St. Petersburg however, that Balabnev became a keen-eyed urban photographer, whose greatest projects to date are a series of large-format hardcover books of photographic images: Paris-Petersburg (2000), Venice-St. Petersburg (2003) and Amsterdam-Petersburg (2003). These books can be found in the shops of Europe’s finest art museums.
By the Gribojedov Canal, St. Petersburg. Vladimir Balabnev, 2003, colour photo, 29 x 44 cm. The photographer described how the girls became cross after he captured this shot and surrounded him with their horses, demanding money for having their picture taken. His escape ended up costing 6 times 100 roubles.
Behind the posse, the multicoloured Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ (also known as the Church on the Spilled Blood), stands in jarring contrast to its Baroque and Classical surroundings. Ordered built by Tsar Aleksandr III in 1883 to reflect a “truly Russian” style as opposed to “contaminating Western influence” (St. Peterburg’s raison d’etre), it stands on the spot where his father, Tsar Aleksandr II was assassinated in 1881.
In the albums, Balabnev’s black and white and colour pictures depict a comparison of the city of St. Petersburg and its architectural inspirations, the famous canal cities of Europe. Illustrated on adjacent pages, similar motifs in paired cities are analyzed and I believe the artist has truly succeeded in portraying the spirit of all four cities. The essence of this work is not so much in the similarities of the motifs as in the capture of the parallel moods and unique atmosphere in each city.
Vladimir Balabnev’s exhibition is on view in Tallinn until April 15.
HARRY LIIVRAND, curator
To read more about this photographer and his exhibition, along with personal reflections on the integration of the Russian-speaking population in Estonia, please see this week’s märkmik: “Vene kommipaberilt olen õppinud...” in the Estonian language section.
You are also encouraged to visit the artist’s website at www.ballad.ee, as well as that of the host gallery www.vnapp.com.
- RK