BOX GAMES, December
1999

Kobo Abe is one of the most famous Japanese writers esteemed abroad. His works are in great favor in Russia as well. One of his much-talked-of novels, The Box Man, presents the author’s thoughts about the contemporary society, urbanization of the city, and the core of a human being. Due to well thought-out intrigues these motives go beyond pure Japanese consciousness and become very near and plain to all people, no matter where they live.

The basis of this action became a mini-staging of The Box Man during direction exams at Gerasimov All-Russian Institute of Cinematography. Its initiators were young people belonging to various art professions – filmmakers, artists, architects, designers – Julia Kolesnik, Ekaterina Mordovskaya, Alexei Shutov, Pavel Burmakin, Irina Polevik, Konstantin Mirolyubov.

Unusual stylistics and exotics of Japanese music, combination of modern Japanese "techno" and old traditions, all this gives a peculiar character to this action compared to usual performances. The Box Man started his Box Games in Russian interpretation.

* * *
You find yourself on the territory of the box people.
They have got their own rules. Their own instructions. Their own life.
But
This is your life as well. A box is the world of each of us. You just have to be courageous enough to admit this. And then it might be easier to part with your box.
However, you have to put it on yourself first. To feel yourself inside it.
Box people surround each of us. You just need to look around.
Our world is a box. We offer you a few sketches from the life of the box man.

Action program
- showing of video and photo pieces, One Day of the Box Life, Directions on Making a Box;
- distribution of the boxes and directions on making them to all comers;
- action "Looking from the Box" where any person who wish can take part – you have just to get in the box. You can leave your autograph inside if you like (on completion of the action they unfold the box to be exhibited);
- video installations "The Inner Worlds of the Box";
- action "Packaging/Unpackaging" where you can see yourself lying inside the box;
- Japanese music

Opening of the Action "Box Games" – December 23, 6 p.m.

video: 256 Kbps. fragment

The site has been created with the assistance of the "Open Society Institute" (Soros Foundation). Russia