I constantly or sometimes exist in Stanislav (Ivano-Frankivsk), which is situated little more than 100 kilometers from small Hutzul town Rakhiv (in Carpathians), where by little more than 100 years ago “old Kaiser Mother” Austria “has found” the geographical centre of Europe and has constructed a memorable mark, which means this centre .
Because of I am frequently rather close from the centre of Europe, much closer, than from Kiev, Vienna, Warsaw, Moscow or Paris (everywhere there I already was). And it does not oblige to anything.
I always can to buy (or not to buy) a ticket on “cowboy train CHERVONA RUTA” and in a few hours comes to Rakhiv, which after “fat bourgeois Europe” seems so fine and native.
I can climb up a mountain (near the centre of Europe), kill the ram, fry him on a fire, salted, peppered, and ate. It can be made by group or together. And it is possible to make in another way: gathered "mushrooms", put them into the water, put on fire, cook and eat ones. Soon will feel itself "kastaneda", the violet bears will appear running around and shouting: "Show must go on!"
Staying on such vacation, stand on a mountain and think: “ As this world is boundless”. And on a mountain it is good, it is possible to undress and to run about on a grass for a complete unification with flora, fauna and landscape.
And later, for the third day to return in Stanislav and make a video-art. Though this business is prodigal (you see not commercial): it is necessary to employ studio and operator, actors, etc., etc.
But "video-art requires video-victims", look, and it turns out not bad, for the beginning.
©Roman Shevtsiv. For project "Saga of Kaiserwood", 2001.
