Letters Home. Acedia
aliveduo
*A day ticket for 14.01. is valid for both ‘Letters Home. Acedia & Letters Home. Mutus’ and ‘Tumbleweed’
When the Russian war of aggression began, theater makers Alena Starostina and Ivan Nikolaev were forced to leave St. Petersburg. Since then, they have kept a diary, recording their daily movements and thoughts. The four-part performative project “Letters Home” came together like a patchwork quilt over the course of two years. The initial shock of losing their home gives way to waves of melancholy and alienation brought on by the challenges of a new language. However, the photographic and cinematic documentation of Dresden’s natural and urban landscapes has become a source of comfort and inspiration.
The first part, “Letters Home. Acedia”, explores their forced departure from Russia. “Acedia” (Latin for “despondency”) reflects both the artists emotional states and a longstanding sentiment in Russian society. Over the course of 49 minutes – the time it takes to develop a 35mm film roll – the artists employ a minimalist, repetitive approach to recall the mundane actions within their former apartment. These seemingly trivial gestures, guided by familiar micro-trajectories, define and shape our lives. Projectors, photo and video material and the floor plan of a flat provide an insight into the artists’ last days in Russia.
Duration: ca. 45 min
Languages: English and German
The artists Alena Starostina and Ivan Nikolaev (aliveduo) invite two colleagues with their works – the dancer and choreographer Tanya Chizhikova and the theatre maker Maria Sapizhak – to accompany ‘Letters Home’ with their respective projects ‘Tumbleweed’ and ‘InnerVoice-dot-ru’.
They all see themselves not only as immigrants and citizens of Russia – a country that continues to commit crimes – but also as artists seeking new meaning in a foreign country. All projects move between documentation and artistic fiction, subtly revealing the inner world of the artists – their memories, doubts and the ghosts of lost things. Their performances rely on endurance, openness and interaction with the audience, making them both deeply personal and communal experiences.
The performances are accompanied by works by students from the Class of Moving Images (Klasse für Bewegtbild) at HfBK Dresden, created during the DIARY LAB, which focuses on personal connection, led by Lamia Šabić. These works will be presented in an installative setting in the Ecksalon Ost.
aliveduo, formed by Alena Starostina and Ivan Nikolaev, is an artistic partnership based in Dresden. Both artists studied at the Theatre Academy in St. Petersburg and co-founded the independent collective theatre post in 2010 with a focus on experimental theatre. As part of the theatre post collective, they received multiple nominations in local and international festivals. In 2022, they relocated to Germany, where they continue to expand their creative work across borders. Drawing on their extensive backgrounds in acting, directing, and performance, aliveduo creates innovative, experimental works that explore the intersections of theater, visual arts, and multimedia.
Performance: Alena Starostina, Ivan Nikolaev
Composer: Dmitry Vlasik
PR: Aigul Davletshina
In cooperation with: HELLERAU – European Center for the Arts
Supported by: HELLERAU – European Center for the Arts, Landeshauptstadt Dresden, Kulturstiftung des Freistaates Sachsen, Martin Roth Initiative
Invaluable Thanks: Artists at Risk, University of Fine Arts Dresden
