Nikita Kadan

The Black Obelisk (Tarring the Obelisk to Unknown), 2020

The Black Obelisk is a conceptual proposal of “monument of shame” which has no less reason to be present in a public space than monuments of glory. If the reminders about national mistakes and crimes would be considered deserving public presence not less than monuments to glorious victories or tragedies, the politics of monumental commemoration would be more complex and multi faceted and at the same time more fair.

Nikita Kadan was born 1982 in Kyiv, Ukraine, where he lives and works today. He is a member of the artist group R.E.P. (Revolutionary Experimental Space, since 2004) and co-founder and member of the Hudrada (artistic committee, 2008) curatorial and activist group. He often works in interdisciplinary collaborations  with architects, human rights activists and sociologists.