The document describes an art project by the artistic tandem Babak-Matveev called "Transgression of Doubled Reflection (Family Album)". It involves restoring old family photos found in a village album and presenting them as diptychs, with the original photo on the left and a restored version on the right. The project aims to play with notions of transgression and push boundaries of perception. It includes over 20 restored photo diptychs and explores philosophical ideas around identity, memory, and the passage of time.

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Photo, digital art, installation views

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Telluris’ Artspace
Project Transgression of Doubled Reflection (Family Album)

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Art-tandem BM Babak-Matveev

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Telluris. Manifesto
Authors Mykola Babak, Evgene Matveev
Coordinator Veronika Ganechko
Dual Philosophical Disposition
It is impossible to characterize Telluris’ artistic space via established categories. The Babak-Matveev tandem carves
this ethical-esthetic-culture space in the midst of the complex global conflict between globalization and individual na-
tions’ tendencies towards preservation, further developments, and determination of their national identities. Telluris is
composed of dozens of individual artistic projects. Almost all of them have open structure; it makes it easier to add
on individual, as well as series of art works, as the projects unfolds. The Babak-Matveev‘ creative space does not
have boundaries. It includes various genres of the contemporary art and their combinations. The artistic tandem pur-
posefully and consciously separates itself from the background artistic space. We started building our own version of
the modern visual art foundation, utilizing unusual constructions of psychological withdrawal, while at the same time
keeping it separate from the fickle art fashion. The Babak-Matveev tandem fills their work with timely, occasionally
unreal artistic plasticity and philosophical madness. We integrate our egoistical view of the artistic media space into
a method of a suggestive interaction with art connoisseurs and professionals alike.
Moving from the trends of fragmentation and rhizome
as the main metaphors of the modern culture, –
towards the trend of “the new integrity”
Rhizome (fr. rhizome “root”) – is one of the key concepts of the philosophy of poststructuralism, introduced by
G. Deleuze and F.Guattari. Rhizome must resist the linear structures of being and thinking typical of classical
European culture.
The tangled root system of a plant is the example of the rhizome as a concept. According to G. Deleuze and F.Guattari,
the rhizome has neither beginning, nor end; neither center, nor principle of the center (“genetic axis”), or a universal
code. The scholars identify the following qualities of the rhizome: (1) connection, (2) heterogeneity (“ any points of
a rhizome can be connected to any other, and must be”), (3) multiplicity, (4) principle of a signifying rupture, (5) car-
tography, (6) decalcomania.
We think, that a rhizome can establish random and unexpected differences, impossible to juxtapose based on the
presence or absence of a certain trait. Rhizome includes the lines of segmentation, “relative speed” of movement
composing its structure. The connections of rhizome lines create a so-called “plateaus” – temporary zone of stability
in the midst of its constantly pulsating configuration. G. Deleuze and F.Guattari compare these zones against binary
vectors of development typical of “woody structures”. Nomadic system of growth (concept of the new world view char-
acterized by rejection of the strict structure, suggested by G. Deleuze and F.Guattari)* rains the problem of intercon-
nection between linear (“woody”) and non-linear (“rhizome-like”) environments. These environments possesses
immanent (“existing within”, philosophical category of inherent internal connection as opposed to external one)**, cre-
ative potential of self-organization, and can be called synergetic.
* Wikipedia
** ibid

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Project Transgression of Doubled Reflection (Family Album)
Cherkasy-Kyiv, Ukraine. Mykola Babak, Evgene Matveev. 2015–2016
© Mykola Babak, Evgene Matveev. 2015–2016

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Project Transgression of Doubled Reflection* (Family Album)
Authors Mykola Babak, Evgene Matveev
Coordinator Veronika Ganechko
The most vivid artistic means are on the border or even abroad of steady perception (we think that the steady perception
is consolidated only as a result of consecutive education of people by systematic postmodern play). It means that bal-
ancing on this boarder is the most preferable condition for modern artists. According to the idea of “Transgression” the
world of vividly present, delineating the sphere of familiar possible for the person, encloses the people within its borders
and crosses any perspective of novelty for them. This period of history is familiar for individuals, it lasts and multiples
the almost known. This perspective of Transgression makes the exit out of its boarders (in the given system of count-
down) impossible; it is impossible to break through available (free interpretation of M.Blanchot).
In the context of transgression phenomena G.Bataille calls transgression “the edge of possible”, “meditation”, “burning
experience”, that “doesn’t pay attention to the established from without borders” **. Usually the edge or border is in-
terpreted as a sharp move from one border to another. For example, moon terminator is a tiny border between light
and darkness due to the absence of atmosphere. According to Foucault, “the philosophy of transgression pulls out
the attitude of finiteness to the objective reality, this moment of limit, that is marked by anthropological thought since
Kant’s time only from a distance...” ***
We think that transgression of doubled reflection is the possibility, which appears after the realization of all possible im-
possible things (by the way, Foucault thinks “the realization of all possible possible things”). We’d like to play with trans-
gression in our own way. There are no any limits according to Foucault. Initially we don’t create a lineal transition for
ourselves and then broadened it to the comfortable zone. And there we could manage with historical photos from the
founded by Mykola Babak family album in one of the villages of the Central Ukraine and constantly view overboard of
“possible”. We discover the right way to the new integrity, which we proclaim as a policy.
* It is not going about traditional notion of “reflection”, but about a doubled nature of transformation, offered by authors.
** А.Gritsanov. The Contemporary Dictionary of Philosophy. Postmodernism.
*** ibid.

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Mykola Babak in one of the houses of disappeared Cherry Farm with the founded family photo album. 2014. Cherkasy oblast, Chornobai district, Cherry Farm (49°39'52.6"N 32°15'03.6"E).
Photos made by Veronika Ganechko.

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Art critic text 1

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Art critic text 2

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Photo, digital art

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M.Babak, E.Matveev. Transgression of Doubled Reflection (Family Album). Young man in Mazepa Fur-Cap. Restoration. The right part of the diptych. 2015–2016. Photo, digital art. Maximum print size 175 x 200 cmM.Babak, E.Matveev. Transgression of Doubled Reflection (Family Album). Young man in Mazepa Fur-Cap. The left part of the diptych. 2015–2016. Photo, digital art. Maximum print size 175 x 200 cm

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M.Babak, E.Matveev. Transgression of Doubled Reflection (Family Album). Mother with a Child. Restoration. The right part of the diptych. 2015–2016. Photo, digital art. Maximum print size 200 x 175 cmM.Babak, E.Matveev. Transgression of Doubled Reflection (Family Album). Mother with a Child. The left part of the diptych. 2015–2016. Photo, digital art. Maximum print size 200 x 175 cm

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M.Babak, E.Matveev. Transgression of Doubled Reflection (Family Album). Witch. Restoration. The right part of the diptych. 2015–2016. Photo, digital art. Maximum print size 175 x 200 cmM.Babak, E.Matveev. Transgression of Doubled Reflection (Family Album). Witch. The left part of the diptych. 2015–2016. Photo, digital art. Maximum print size 175 x 200 cm

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M.Babak, E.Matveev. Transgression of Doubled Reflection (Family Album). Father. Restoration. The right part of the diptych. 2015–2016. Photo, digital art. Maximum print size 200 x 175 cmM.Babak, E.Matveev. Transgression of Doubled Reflection (Family Album). Father. The left part of the diptych. 2015–2016. Photo, digital art. Maximum print size 200 x 175 cm

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M.Babak, E.Matveev. Transgression of Doubled Reflection (Family Album). Humorist. Restoration. The right part of the diptych. 2015–2016. Photo, digital art. Maximum print size 200 x 175 cmM.Babak, E.Matveev. Transgression of Doubled Reflection (Family Album). Humorist. The left part of the diptych. 2015–2016. Photo, digital art. Maximum print size 200 x 175 cm

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M.Babak, E.Matveev. Transgression of Doubled Reflection (Family Album). Jolly Little Boy. Restoration. The right part of the diptych. 2015–2016. Photo, digital art. Maximum print size 200 x 175 cmM.Babak, E.Matveev. Transgression of Doubled Reflection (Family Album). Jolly Little Boy. The left part of the diptych. 2015–2016. Photo, digital art. Maximum print size 200 x 175 cm

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M.Babak, E.Matveev. Transgression of Doubled Reflection (Family Album). Aunt from Poludnivka Village. Restoration. The right part of the diptych. 2015–2016. Photo, digital art. Maximum print size 200 x 175 cmM.Babak, E.Matveev. Transgression of Doubled Reflection (Family Album). Aunt from Poludnivka Village. The left part of the diptych. 2015–2016. Photo, digital art. Maximum print size 200 x 175 cm

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M.Babak, E.Matveev. Transgression of Doubled Reflection (Family Album). Eurooptimist ’s Cry. The left part of the diptych. 2015–2016. Photo, digital art. Maximum print size 200 x 175 cm M.Babak, E.Matveev. Transgression of Doubled Reflection (Family Album). Eurooptimist ’s Cry. Restoration. The right part of the diptych. 2015–2016. Photo, digital art. Maximum print size 200 x 175 cm

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M.Babak, E.Matveev. Transgression of Doubled Reflection (Family Album). Near a Haystack. The left part of the diptych. 2015–2016. Photo, digital art. Maximum print size 200 x 175 cm M.Babak, E.Matveev. Transgression of Doubled Reflection (Family Album). Near a Haystack. Restoration. The right part of the diptych. 2015–2016. Photo, digital art. Maximum print size 200 x 175 cm

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M.Babak, E.Matveev. Transgression of Doubled Reflection (Family Album). Aidar-Member. The left part of the diptych. 2015–2016. Photo, digital art. Maximum print size 175 x 200 cm M.Babak, E.Matveev. Transgression of Doubled Reflection (Family Album). Aidar-Member. Restoration. The right part of the diptych. 2015–2016. Photo, digital art. Maximum print size 175 x 200 cm

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M.Babak, E.Matveev. Transgression of Doubled Reflection (Family Album). Child with a Pipe. The left part of the diptych. 2015–2016. Photo, digital art. Maximum print size 200 x 175 cm M.Babak, E.Matveev. Transgression of Doubled Reflection (Family Album). Child with a Pipe. Restoration. The right part of the diptych. 2015–2016. Photo, digital art. Maximum print size 200 x 175 cm

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M.Babak, E.Matveev. Transgression of Doubled Reflection (Family Album). Magic Fish. The left part of the diptych. 2015–2016. Photo, digital art. Maximum print size 175 x 200 cm M.Babak, E.Matveev. Transgression of Doubled Reflection (Family Album). Magic Fish. Restoration. The right part of the diptych. 2015–2016. Photo, digital art. Maximum print size 175 x 200 cm

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M.Babak, E.Matveev. Transgression of Doubled Reflection (Family Album). All-seeing Eye. The left part of the diptych. 2015–2016. Photo, digital art. Maximum print size 175 x 200 cm M.Babak, E.Matveev. Transgression of Doubled Reflection (Family Album). All-seeing Eye. Restoration. The right part of the diptych. 2015–2016. Photo, digital art. Maximum print size 175 x 200 cm

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M.Babak, E.Matveev. Transgression of Doubled Reflection (Family Album). Rocker. The left part of the diptych. 2015–2016. Photo, digital art. Maximum print size 200 x 175 cm M.Babak, E.Matveev. Transgression of Doubled Reflection (Family Album). Rocker. Restoration. The right part of the diptych. 2015–2016. Photo, digital art. Maximum print size 200 x 175 cm

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M.Babak, E.Matveev. Transgression of Doubled Reflection (Family Album). Angry Cherkas. The left part of the diptych. 2015–2016. Photo, digital art. Maximum print size 200 x 175 cm M.Babak, E.Matveev. Transgression of Doubled Reflection (Family Album). Angry Cherkas. Restoration. The right part of the diptych. 2015–2016. Photo, digital art. Maximum print size 200 x 175 cm

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M.Babak, E.Matveev. Transgression of Doubled Reflection (Family Album). Amateur Actors. The left part of the diptych. 2015–2016. Photo, digital art. Maximum print size 200 x 175 cm M.Babak, E.Matveev. Transgression of Doubled Reflection (Family Album). Amateur Actors. Restoration. The right part of the diptych. 2015–2016. Photo, digital art. Maximum print size 200 x 175 cm

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M.Babak, E.Matveev. Transgression of Doubled Reflection (Family Album). Magdalene. The left part of the diptych. 2015–2016. Photo, digital art. Maximum print size 200 x 175 cm M.Babak, E.Matveev. Transgression of Doubled Reflection (Family Album). Magdalene. Restoration. The right part of the diptych. 2015–2016. Photo, digital art. Maximum print size 200 x 175 cm

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M.Babak, E.Matveev. Transgression of Doubled Reflection (Family Album). Village Musician. The left part of the diptych. 2015–2016. Photo, digital art. Maximum print size 200 x 175 cm M.Babak, E.Matveev. Transgression of Doubled Reflection (Family Album). Village Musician. Restoration. The right part of the diptych. 2015–2016. Photo, digital art. Maximum print size 200 x 175 cm

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M.Babak, E.Matveev. Transgression of Doubled Reflection (Family Album). Brother. The left part of the diptych. 2015–2016. Photo, digital art. Maximum print size 200 x 175 cm M.Babak, E.Matveev. Transgression of Doubled Reflection (Family Album). Brother. Restoration. The right part of the diptych. 2015–2016. Photo, digital art. Maximum print size 200 x 175 cm

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M.Babak, E.Matveev. Transgression of Doubled Reflection (Family Album). Ivan’s Wings. The left part of the diptych. 2015–2016. Photo, digital art. Maximum print size 175 x 200 cm M.Babak, E.Matveev. Transgression of Doubled Reflection (Family Album). Ivan’s Wings. Restoration. The right part of the diptych. 2015–2016. Photo, digital art. Maximum print size 175 x 200 cm

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M.Babak, E.Matveev. Transgression of Doubled Reflection (Family Album). Girls with a Boy. The left part of the diptych. 2015–2016. Photo, digital art. Maximum print size 200 x 175 cm M.Babak, E.Matveev. Transgression of Doubled Reflection (Family Album). Girls with a Boy. Restoration. The right part of the diptych. 2015–2016. Photo, digital art. Maximum print size 200 x 175 cm

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Visualization in the Museum Space
Project Transgression of Doubled Reflection (Family Album)

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M.Babak, E.Matveev. Project Transgression of Doubled Reflection (Family Album). Visualization

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Mykola Babak
Ukrainian artist, writer, art collector and publisher (Cherkasy).
Mykola Babak was born in Voronyntsi, Cherkasy Oblast. In 1971 he fin-
ished Melnyky Secondary School. From 1972 till 1974 he served in the So-
viet Army. After demobilization he worked as a designer at Cherkasy “Azot”
Company and at Cherkasy Combine of art-advertisement. From 1979 till
1985 together with a group of artists he managed monumental projects
(wall-paintings, mosaics, stained-glass windows) in the far-east of Russia.
In 1986 Mykola Babak came back to Ukraine. He is known by his partici-
pation at the 51-st Venice Biennale of Contemporary art with the National
Project “Your Children, Ukraine” (2005). M.Babak is the member of National
Union of Artists of Ukraine (from 1990), Merited Artist of Ukraine (2004),
Taras Shevchenko National Prize Laureate (2010), People's Artist of
Ukraine (2016). His artworks are at the National Art Museum of Ukraine,
Contemporary Art Museum of Ukraine, Soviart (Ukrainian Center of Modern
Art), Ministry of Culture of Ukraine, Ministry of Culture of Russian Federa-
tion and in private collections in many countries of the world. Mykola Babak
lives and works in Cherkasy, Ukraine.
Selected exhibitions:
2016 “The Ukrainian Rural Photo (from Mykola Babak’s private
collection)”, The National Taras Shevchenko Museum, Kyiv
2015 “The Central Dnipro River Region Folk Icon of the 18th – 20th c.
(from Mykola Babak’s private collection)”, Art Museum, Cherkasy
2013 “IV FINE ART UKRAINE”, Art-Arsenal, Kyiv
2006 Personal exhibition “Celestial Chronicle”,
The National Art Museum of Ukraine, Kyiv
2005 National Project “Your Children, Ukraine”
at the 51st Venice Biennale
2005 Project “Your Children, Ukraine”, Diploma and 1-st Prize,
The Gallery of the National Ukrainian Artist Trade Union, Kyiv
2004 “Ukrainian Rural Photo (from Mykola Babak’s private collection)”
V International Photobiennale, Moscow Museum of Modern Art,
Moscow
2003 “The Ukrainian Retrospective”, I Kyiv Photobiennale,
Art Foundation Gallery, Kyiv
2002 “The Ukrainian World of Painting”, Beijing
2000 “Collection of Axiomatic”, The Gallery
of the National Ukrainian Artist Trade Union, Kyiv
1999 Personal Exhibition “Telluris”, The National Art Museum
of Ukraine, Kyiv
1993 “People with People”, Poland
Publishing
Monograph “The Central Dnipro River Region Folk Icon
of the 18th – 20th c. in the Context of Rural Cultural Space”
Awards: Best Book of the Lviv Publishers’ Forum (2009)
Book of the Year and Grant Prize of the XI All-Ukrainian Rating (2009)
Diploma of “The Art of Bookmaking” Contest (2009)
Monograph “The Central Ukraine Rural Photo of the late 19th – 20th c.”
Awards: Book of the Year of the XVI All-Ukrainian Rating (2014)
Diploma of “The Art of Bookmaking” Contest (2009)
Monograph “Grygori Shevchenko – Master of Photo-Painting,
Successor of Shevchenko Family”
m.babak@bigmir.net
Evgene Matveev
Ukrainian artist (Kyiv).
E.Matveev was born in Kharpai Village, Volokalamsk District, Moscow
Oblast. In 1972 he graduated from the Ivan Fedoriv Ukrainian Polygraph
Institute. From 1972 till 1973 he served in the Soviet Army. E.Matveev is
the member of the National Union of Artists of Ukraine (from 1978),
Shevchenko National Prize Laureate (1983). Winner of silver medal of the
USSR Academy of Arts (1983). The Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada Golden
Prize Laureate (2001), Merited Artist of Ukraine (2004), People's Artist of
Ukraine (2016), laureate of numerous international and national prizes of
the highest level. He works almost in all techniques and directions of con-
temporary art. More than 600 Matveev’s artworks are at the National Art
Museum of Ukraine, Taras Shevchenko National Museum, Ukrainian Mu-
seum of Book and Printing, Korolev Museum of Cosmonautics, Academy
of Arts of the USSR, Karl Marks Museum, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of
Ukraine, Contemporary Art Museum of Ukraine, Soviart (Ukrainian Center
of Modern Art), Ministry of Culture of Ukraine, Ministry of Culture of Russian
Federation and many other museums, institutions and private collections
in dozens countries all over the world. Evgene Matveev lives and works in
Kyiv, Ukraine.
Selected exhibitions:
2014 “The Show Within the Show”, Art-Arsenal, Kyiv
2012 “Communication XXI”, CCA Soviart,
National Union of Artists of Ukraine, Kyiv
2011 “Independent”, Art-Arsenal, Kyiv
2011 “Space Odyssey”, Art-Arsenal, Kyiv
2011 “People’s Choice”, CCA Soviart, Kyiv
2009 “Metal Heart”, Lavra Gallery, Kyiv
2009 “Along the Wall”, Art-Arsenal, Kyiv
2009 “War”, CCA Soviart, Kyiv
2008 “Soap”, CCA Soviart, Kyiv
2008 “Nothing Personal”, Gogol-Fest, Art-Arsenal, Kyiv
2007 “Confrontation”, International Photobiennale, Kyiv
2006 “In the Army Now”, International Photobiennale, Stockholm
2005 “Dreams about Dresden Gallery”, Berlin
2000 “Clear Room”, Promzone, Kyiv
2000 “Crimea Atom”, V International Art-Festival, Ukraine
1999 Anniversary Exhibition. Foundation for Promotion of Arts.
The National Art Museum of Ukraine, Kyiv
1997 “Photosynthesis”, International Photobiennale, Kyiv
1990 Autumn Salon in Paris, “Glory” Gallery, Paris
1990 Biella per l'Incisione International Prize, Graphics Biennale,
Bella, Italy
1987 Baltic Sea Biennale, Germany
1984 VII Graphics Art Biennale, Norway
1982 “IBA-82”, Leipzig, Germany, Bronze medal
1977 “IBA-77”, Leipzig, Germany, Bronze medal
evgart@ukr.net
evgart@meta.ua

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Acknowledgement
Victor Hugo Peralta
Guinness World Records
Axel Piercing (Axel Rosales)
Guinness World Records
Ian Fraser Kilmister (“Lemmy”)
The leader of the rock band Motörhead
Andreas Bergh (“Whiplasher Bernadotte”)
The leader of the metal band Deathstars
Telluris’ Artspace
Project Transgression of Doubled Reflection (Family Album)
Authors Mykola Babak, Evgene Matveev
Coordinator Veronika Ganechko
Concept Mykola Babak, Evgene Matveev
Artists Art-tandem BM Babak-Matveev
Art critic text
Art critic text
Editors Veronika Ganechko (Ukraine), Oksana Nichols (USA)
Technical director, print Victor Manshtein

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