Kaybash
Kaybash
ceramic sculpture h60/ audio guide 3"
ceramic sculpture h60/ audio guide 3"
Before you is Kaibash, a ceramic sculpture by artist Egor Antsygin.
Before you is Kaibash, a ceramic sculpture by artist Egor Antsygin.
It is a site-specific work, created in 2019 and based on research of and cooperation with the Kyiv Ship Repair Plant. During his viewing trip to the plant, with no opportunities to take photographs or look into the workshops' interiors, the artist happened to stumble upon a small architectural form amongst the rusting metal. Egor found the unusual storeroom interesting — it looked like a small iron cabin without windows, but with a little internal space: a bench, a table, a shelf. On the outside it was also fitted with a tool cabinet. The construction has eyes fitted to it so that it can be relocated to different parts of the plant using a crane. The head of security (second job: tour guide) told the artist that this cabin is called a KAIBASH. Conducting research on the origin of the word, the author of the piece found out that the name is borrowed from miners’ jargon and denotes a small ancillary structure or building, accommodation space, workshop, or cabin. But in the case of the Ship Repair Plant, Kaibash changes its meaning from an ancillary structure to a portable place of work for the crew leader.
It is a site-specific work, created in 2019 and based on research of and cooperation with the Kyiv Ship Repair Plant. During his viewing trip to the plant, with no opportunities to take photographs or look into the workshops' interiors, the artist happened to stumble upon a small architectural form amongst the rusting metal. Egor found the unusual storeroom interesting — it looked like a small iron cabin without windows, but with a little internal space: a bench, a table, a shelf. On the outside it was also fitted with a tool cabinet. The construction has eyes fitted to it so that it can be relocated to different parts of the plant using a crane. The head of security (second job: tour guide) told the artist that this cabin is called a KAIBASH. Conducting research on the origin of the word, the author of the piece found out that the name is borrowed from miners’ jargon and denotes a small ancillary structure or building, accommodation space, workshop, or cabin. But in the case of the Ship Repair Plant, Kaibash changes its meaning from an ancillary structure to a portable place of work for the crew leader.
The artist was impressed by such a non-standard portable workplace, considering the current popularity of coworking spaces and open offices. The kaibash becomes the embodiment of obsolete yet viable technology, and its mobility changes the meaning of workplace and becomes a tool of labour.
The artist was impressed by such a non-standard portable workplace, considering the current popularity of coworking spaces and open offices. The kaibash becomes the embodiment of obsolete yet viable technology, and its mobility changes the meaning of workplace and becomes a tool of labour.
Continuing his research, Egor found out from workers at the plant that the Kaibash is used for things other than its primary purpose. Workers drank tea there, sheltered from bad weather and even stored coal inside it. At that moment the Kaibash looked to be abandoned: it was not used for its intended purpose, it was slowly rusting and falling to pieces. This image of the Kaibash had something in common with the image of the plant itself.
Continuing his research, Egor found out from workers at the plant that the Kaibash is used for things other than its primary purpose. Workers drank tea there, sheltered from bad weather and even stored coal inside it. At that moment the Kaibash looked to be abandoned: it was not used for its intended purpose, it was slowly rusting and falling to pieces. This image of the Kaibash had something in common with the image of the plant itself.
Observing the activity of post-Soviet enterprises, one can notice a natural process whereby old tools are replaced by new ones, an outdated factory is either re-equipped or stops being profitable and as a result ceases to function. Will the Kaibash continue to be used or will it be turned in for scrap? We do not know. The creation of a ceramic model from a material that is simultaneously fragile and stable is an attempt by the author to record the likeness of an obsolete tool, a workplace that will most likely not appear in subsequent work done at the Kyiv Ship Repair Plant.
Observing the activity of post-Soviet enterprises, one can notice a natural process whereby old tools are replaced by new ones, an outdated factory is either re-equipped or stops being profitable and as a result ceases to function. Will the Kaibash continue to be used or will it be turned in for scrap? We do not know. The creation of a ceramic model from a material that is simultaneously fragile and stable is an attempt by the author to record the likeness of an obsolete tool, a workplace that will most likely not appear in subsequent work done at the Kyiv Ship Repair Plant.
It is hard not to recall with joy the comment made by the artist after his tour:
It is hard not to recall with joy the comment made by the artist after his tour:
“This cabin, in no way notable, at a certain moment becomes weightless and hovers above the Kyiv port, the iron workplace turning into an element of poetry.”
“This cabin, in no way notable, at a certain moment becomes weightless and hovers above the Kyiv port, the iron workplace turning into an element of poetry.”