30. Oct, 2025

Jevgeni Zolotko – Invasive. Reframing of the paintings in the old terminal of Tallinn Airport

Physical removal of human figures from paintings using the cut-out technique.

Justification of the solution: The removal of historical subjects or human figures from paintings semantically nullifies the meaning and relevance of so-called historical objects (e.g. flags, symbols of power, architecture, environment, etc.).

By taking away the metaphysical position of power through the cut-outs or the lack of a human figure, we paradoxically arrive at the concept of the so-called semantic empty signifier, which highlights the role of the cut-out subject that is absent from the picture. The absence of people in paintings now emphasizes superiority, the life-denying nature of every imposed ideology. 

Faith and ideology gain their power through people and lose it without them. Like a noun without a verb. Like gods without believers.