Donbass Chocolate 1997

Curator: Arsen Savadov's photograph, "Donbass Chocolate," made in 1997, presents a striking juxtaposition of masculine labor and feminine attire. The figures are caked in what appears to be a thick, dark substance, their expressions intense. What's your first reaction to this image? Editor: My immediate impression is one of profound discomfort. The grimy bodies combined with the delicate tutus create an unsettling tension, a sort of visceral clash that really gets under my skin. I'm already thinking about the performative aspect of labor and how it shapes identity. Curator: Precisely. Savadov created this tableau vivant by photographing male coal miners covered in coal dust, some adorned in ballet tutus. This visual paradox challenges conventional gender roles within the context of the Donbass region's coal-mining culture. Editor: The title itself, "Donbass Chocolate," is intriguing. The phrase brings to mind both industry and labor but then ties that directly to consumable commodities, almost like branding the human cost. How much did this performance actually play with notions of commodity? Curator: That’s a compelling question. By combining hyper-masculine and hyper-feminine elements, it creates a potent social commentary, exploring identity as something manufactured and performed, like any other material good. Editor: Absolutely, and you can’t overlook the material presence of the coal itself. It’s not just a backdrop; it’s on their skin, almost becoming a second skin, a suffocating layer that transforms their appearance. It makes me think about the actual physical labor. What kind of work do they really perform? What kind of environment surrounds that labor, and what is the product that arises? Curator: It's powerful how the piece makes us consider not just the act of mining itself but the complex social and political structures built around it, particularly in post-Soviet Ukraine, which had a very troubled recent past. Editor: It’s fascinating to consider how Savadov utilizes performance as a medium to expose the raw, material conditions of work and identity construction. He asks us to critically examine the narratives we construct about masculinity, labor, and the economy. Curator: "Donbass Chocolate" leaves us pondering the multifaceted nature of identity, forcing a confrontation between ideals and the gritty realities that define them. Editor: Yes, it makes you wonder who profits, what is wasted, and at what price. An unsettling but extremely evocative piece!