KRISTINA NORMAN

1979 Tallinn. Lives in Tallinn

The Monolith. Eternal Mix. Video installation, loop, 2007

Kristina Norman uses her Russian-Estonian family background to talk about the results of the integration process of two nations, of two world views and the reciprocal incomprehension cultivated by the media. What are the consequences of "forgetting" a war monument in the middle of a city, and what is the meaning of the fact that "integration" is not merely a pretty word in Euro-documents?
The Monolith. Eternal Mix is a looping fantasy about the World War II monument that was relocated from Tallinn city centre in April 2007. The film is about the soldier statue that became the absolutely demonised and heroified superstar in both Estonian and Russian media, symbolising occupation for the first ones and victory for others. Kristina explains wittily and playfully the background of the Bronze Soldier, using parallel references to Stanley Kubrick’s film 2001: A Space Odyssey. Scenes picked directly from public media or documentary shots from the street alternate with witty animated comments, the media warfare is retaliated by their own means.





Photos: Reimo Võsa-Tangsoo 2007 © Center for Contemporary Arts, Estonia