Slavs and Tatars
Slavs and Tatars’ research-based practice considers the area of Eurasia, which in their definition extends “from the former Berlin Wall to the Great Wall of China”. They explore the history and tensions of this region related to questions of identity formation resulting from the clash between modernisation (19th century and Soviet period) and tradition (Islam, ‘uncanny Slavdom’, local ‘pagan’ beliefs, politics of language, mythology). With precision, combining archival and evidential materials, the artists unpack historical and cultural tropes, known and unknown. Research is combined with sophisticated reinterpretations, unexpected associations, metaphysics, pop-culture, geopolitics and witty humour.