'Midnight Christening'

—Video collage of a performance 03:09 minutes—

—Digitally altered soundscape 03:09 minutes—

“Midnight Christening” is a poignant video installation by a Russian artist, drawing on their personal journey of liberation. Born from the artist's baptism at an early age and upbringing under Russian state expectations, this performance serves as a ritualistic cleanse. Through symbolic acts of washing away sins and embracing their intrinsic identity, the piece transcends cultural boundaries, offering a universal narrative of self-discovery and emancipation. Accompanied by a psychoacoustic soundscape, which creates an anxious and captivating feeling; the piece alerts yet draws viewers closer, facilitating a full disassociation with the work.

The performance took place over the span of two weeks near the ocean, every day for about an hour the artist was coming back to the same location to perform, turning an event into a ritual.

Credits to Matilde Madeira (Fine Art Chelsea) for assisting with the capture of the performance.