Elena Kovylina
LOVE AFTER THE COLD WAR

The project was born in Los Angeles (USA) in 2006. Elena Kovylina received a grant from the MAK (www.MAK.at) program for artists and architects at Schindler House, the Los Angeles branch of MAK. MAK, due to the efforts of director Piter Noever, actively supports and works with contemporary artists from various countries.

Elena Kovylina was inspired by Hollywood, this “factory of dreams,” where the global production of art, represents the ideals of the American way of life. The social group of the Los Angeles inhabitants, who believe in the realization of the ‘American dream’ and in the limits of their existential perspective, served as the material for her creative study. These people earn their “bread” working as small clerks, doing odd-jobs, laboring as maintenance staff, yet consider themselves actors. When any opportunity presents itself, they are ready to play a part in Hollywood film-projects.

The artist managed to reach the actors by advertising her plans to shoot the film ‘Love after the Cold War’ in the local newspaper Back Stage.

The installation on view at the American Center (www.amc.ru) shows photographs from the portfolios of more than 250 aspiring actors auditioning for the roles of: agent, president, top model, and first lady in Elena Kovylina’s fictitious film and the documentation of their audition. Kovylina conducted over seventy auditions in which actors had to prepare and perform a monolog-improvisation on the theme: ‘Why I Love America.’

The theme of the installation is the image of the ideal American as reflected by the common man who believes the ‘American dream’ can become a reality.