Dasha+Zhanar is a collaboration of artists from Kyiv and Moscow started in 2019. For a long time, they did not see each other and did not talk. The main way of communication is collaborative work: video, installations, objects, photographs and performances. Their practice can be naturally divided into “before” (2019–2020) and “after” (2020–now) meeting face to face.
The collaboration is based on communication constraints. On the one hand, the given ones — the distance and political confrontation between Ukraine and Russia. On the other hand, the intentional constraints that Dasha and Zhanar establish — not seeing each other for two years.
They met on the internet at the end of 2018 and spontaneously decided to collaborate. Dasha and Zhanar shared videos, photos, and sounds from everyday life in the Dropbox. They made digital works that reflected the context around them and served as a diary. With the Silent Call Dasha and Zhanar explored the digital presence and non-verbal interaction.
The collaboration changed from digital to physical in the summer of 2019. Zhanar comes from Moscow to not-meet Dasha, but to perform with her. Unlock is a series of four performances filmed in Kyiv. Dasha and Zhanar explore ways of communication — from indirect to bodily. Performances open up different types of communication (voice, touch), but the artists have not looked into each other's eyes yet. The final fourth performance was shot in the fall of 2020 when Zhanar arrived during the lockdown.
After they met, Dasha and Zhanar continued to perform. The performances become site-specific. They explore places and its physicality. At the same time the artists got to know each other again; gradually in common sense. Zhanar arrived in Kyiv in the summer of 2021 for the last time.
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February 2022. The war between countries became a breaking point in world history and in the collaboration of two artists. They made their latest work as a reflection to the war. At the same time, the future collaboration between Dasha and Zhanar is now uncertain.
The collaboration is based on communication constraints. On the one hand, the given ones — the distance and political confrontation between Ukraine and Russia. On the other hand, the intentional constraints that Dasha and Zhanar establish — not seeing each other for two years.
They met on the internet at the end of 2018 and spontaneously decided to collaborate. Dasha and Zhanar shared videos, photos, and sounds from everyday life in the Dropbox. They made digital works that reflected the context around them and served as a diary. With the Silent Call Dasha and Zhanar explored the digital presence and non-verbal interaction.
The collaboration changed from digital to physical in the summer of 2019. Zhanar comes from Moscow to not-meet Dasha, but to perform with her. Unlock is a series of four performances filmed in Kyiv. Dasha and Zhanar explore ways of communication — from indirect to bodily. Performances open up different types of communication (voice, touch), but the artists have not looked into each other's eyes yet. The final fourth performance was shot in the fall of 2020 when Zhanar arrived during the lockdown.
After they met, Dasha and Zhanar continued to perform. The performances become site-specific. They explore places and its physicality. At the same time the artists got to know each other again; gradually in common sense. Zhanar arrived in Kyiv in the summer of 2021 for the last time.
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February 2022. The war between countries became a breaking point in world history and in the collaboration of two artists. They made their latest work as a reflection to the war. At the same time, the future collaboration between Dasha and Zhanar is now uncertain.
Daria Pugachova
(1990)
was born in Rivne, Ukraine. She studied architecture at Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture. 2013–2019 she played the drums in Panivalkova band.
In 2019 musicians split up and Daria dived into the contemporary art field. She works with performance, video art and artivism. In her projects, Daria uses participatory practices to unite a community and integrate art into daily life.
Zhanar Bereketova
(1990)
is an artist and tutor from Moscow. Zhanar teaches at BA (Hons) Graphic Design Programme at British Higher School of Art & Design in Moscow. She mostly works with installations. Her main medium is elastics that she embeds in the streets. By doing so, she creates “events” and fulfills the emptiness both conceptually and visually.
instagram.com/dashapluszhanar
instagram.com/acoolblackandwhiteabstracthing
zhanarbereketova@gmail.com
outsideobserver.org
instagram.com/outside_observer.art
15secofyou.com
Solo Exhibitions
2022 — Dasha+Zhanar, Industra Gallery, Brno, Czech Republic
2021 — Dasha+Zhanar, Peresvetov Gallery, Moscow, Russia
Group Exhibitions
2022 — 25th Gabrovo Biennial of Humor and Satire, Museum of Humor and Satire, Gabrovo, Bulgaria
2022 — The Sidewalk Video Gallery, Fountain Street Gallery, Boston, USA
2021 — Unreal Bonfires, One Night Public Gallery, Ljubljana, Slovenia
2021 — Interstice, MOTOR, Los Angeles, USA
2021 — Creating by Destruction, Nagornaya Gallery, Moscow, Russia
2021 — Aesthetics of Hybrid Surfaces, 22 Gallery, Moscow, Russia
2021 — Mykolaiv ART Week: Connect, 8 Prichal, Mykolaiv, Ukraine
2021 — Default, Round Lemon, London, United Kingdom
Screenings & Festivals
2022 — 2nd International Ecoperformance Festival, Cine Bijou, São Paulo, Brasil
2022 — Kino Club, Helsinki, Finland
2022 — Over the Hump, Localize Festival, Potsdam, Germany
2022 — Frictions, Performance Garten Festival, Cologne, Germany
2021 — Paadmaan Video Event, Sharif Gallery, Teheran, Iran
Awards
2022 — Golden Aesop Grand Prix in section contemporary art, 25th Gabrovo Biennial of Humor and Satire, Museum of Humor and Satire, Gabrovo, Bulgaria
2022 – Special Mention, 2nd International Ecoperformance Festival, Cine Bijou, São Paulo, Brasil
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(1990)
was born in Rivne, Ukraine. She studied architecture at Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture. 2013–2019 she played the drums in Panivalkova band.
In 2019 musicians split up and Daria dived into the contemporary art field. She works with performance, video art and artivism. In her projects, Daria uses participatory practices to unite a community and integrate art into daily life.
Zhanar Bereketova
(1990)
is an artist and tutor from Moscow. Zhanar teaches at BA (Hons) Graphic Design Programme at British Higher School of Art & Design in Moscow. She mostly works with installations. Her main medium is elastics that she embeds in the streets. By doing so, she creates “events” and fulfills the emptiness both conceptually and visually.
instagram.com/dashapluszhanar
instagram.com/acoolblackandwhiteabstracthing
zhanarbereketova@gmail.com
outsideobserver.org
instagram.com/outside_observer.art
15secofyou.com
Solo Exhibitions
2022 — Dasha+Zhanar, Industra Gallery, Brno, Czech Republic
2021 — Dasha+Zhanar, Peresvetov Gallery, Moscow, Russia
Group Exhibitions
2022 — 25th Gabrovo Biennial of Humor and Satire, Museum of Humor and Satire, Gabrovo, Bulgaria
2022 — The Sidewalk Video Gallery, Fountain Street Gallery, Boston, USA
2021 — Unreal Bonfires, One Night Public Gallery, Ljubljana, Slovenia
2021 — Interstice, MOTOR, Los Angeles, USA
2021 — Creating by Destruction, Nagornaya Gallery, Moscow, Russia
2021 — Aesthetics of Hybrid Surfaces, 22 Gallery, Moscow, Russia
2021 — Mykolaiv ART Week: Connect, 8 Prichal, Mykolaiv, Ukraine
2021 — Default, Round Lemon, London, United Kingdom
Screenings & Festivals
2022 — 2nd International Ecoperformance Festival, Cine Bijou, São Paulo, Brasil
2022 — Kino Club, Helsinki, Finland
2022 — Over the Hump, Localize Festival, Potsdam, Germany
2022 — Frictions, Performance Garten Festival, Cologne, Germany
2021 — Paadmaan Video Event, Sharif Gallery, Teheran, Iran
Awards
2022 — Golden Aesop Grand Prix in section contemporary art, 25th Gabrovo Biennial of Humor and Satire, Museum of Humor and Satire, Gabrovo, Bulgaria
2022 – Special Mention, 2nd International Ecoperformance Festival, Cine Bijou, São Paulo, Brasil
