DDV in Vladivostok

During his 2 days in Vladivostok, FESTU's Rector is besieged with a number of people who want to meet him. We are lined up early at 9.00hrs and are welcomed with coffee, tea and chocolates. This meeting is a key moment during our visit to Vladivostok since we have to unfold the plan for the first exhibition 'Extremities', that will be on show in the museum Artetage-FESTU they are building now. I officially hand the Rector a box of 'Antwerp Hands', fine traditional cookies that have a long tradition as welcoming present at official visits. Then we hand him the complete file, all translated in Russian by our two devoted translators, Julie & Olga aka Famille K., also present to furnish on the spot translation. I also officially hand over catalogues of the artists, as a donation to the library of the Modern Art Museum. The Rector and his Vice-President on Foreign Relations are extremely interested and willing to cooperate towards the exhibition. They will thoroughly study our documents and contact us as soon as possible with their verdict about our demands.

Director Gorodny, now officially owner of the hefty stack of catalogues, readily drags the lot home while we all split up. Christine goes doing her internet business at the business centre, Gorodny hops on a bus, Famille K. disappears in the crowd, and I happily stroll the pavement direction centre next to a heavy traffic jam. I come across some fine statues, one in particular is very resembling to the Mario Lanza figure in the movie about a famous New Zealand murder case. Further up to the main square, being draped up with large banner, but still bearing large potholes as well. Follow the ramp leading to the railway station, pass a food stock shop for travellers, and a small alternative stall next to it.

At the station I come across the Memorial Loc, one of the first trains ever to connect Vladivostok to the world out west. As everywhere these days, the Russians are painting, cleaning. Here an old man was scraping away the last bits of dirt when I came by. Then he stood, like me watching the amazing shiny machine....

At twelve we had an interview with a journalist from a Vladivostok magazine, about 'Extremities', about our stay here, about art in Vladivostok, Russia, Belgium, Europe. About shops here compared to Europe, about people, about religion, such a wide and interesting variety of subjects, but alas, the translator girl he brought along had another rendez-vous and the interview ended. Gorodny then drags me along to visit a photographer's studio, since I have to find one for artist Dirk Braeckman to produce his works for 'Extremities'. The guy is not home, but on the way we come across a peculiar meat shop. In the back of a van 2 men display an array of meat from a pig they've slaughtered a day earlier, strips of bacon, spare ribs and huge hams, topped off with the bright smiling head of the pig.

Then we go to another museum, with the obligatory war memorial exhibition on display. The exhibition is highlighted with a number of half burned poetry pages, poems written by Arseniev Tarkovsky, father of the renowned Russian underground filmmaker of Stalker, Solaris and Andrej Roublov.

With a dose of culture stocked up again, time for some distraction. We found out about a large chinese market where you can buy about anything. Sure hop on a bus and drive to the edge of town. Sure get off next to the entrance of a huge complex of shacks built around a sports stadium, and sure can find anything there. It reminds me a bit of Chatuchak market in Bangkok, with an array of cheap designer clothes, jeans and leather coats, all made in china. A wide variety of food, fish and vegetables. And now and then a nice tidbit only to be found in Vladivostok. I end up with a huge fur hat at bargaining rate.

picture catalog for 29 april 2005