The Drama Machine

The photographs by one of the emerging artists of the vibrant Russian scene. Russian photographer Sergey Sapozhnikov takes as his topic and inspiration a landmark building of Russian Constructivism, the Drama Theatre in Rostov-on-Don. Designed by architects Vladimir Shchuko and Vladimir Gelfreikh in 1930, it’s an iconic work built in the impressive shape of a tractor. Like several other buildings from the period, it underwent various transformations and only recently a poor restoration works. In this sense, it stands as the example of a heritage from Soviet times that nowadays is asking for a renewed attention. Sapozhnikov’s work offers an unusual insight of the structure as his expressionist gaze moves around a constructed scene, reminiscent of a theatrical space and responding to the looming shape of this falling giant.

Sergey Sapozhnikov is a photographer and a curator from Rostov-on-Don, Russia. In 2008, he graduated from Southern Federal University, and in 2009 from the Institute of Contemporary Art. He currently lives and works in Rostov-on-Don and in Moscow, Russia.

Irene Calderoni is curator at the Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo in Turin, Italy.