Daniel Bozhkov

Daniel Bozhkov’s works wavers between irony and sincerity while taking a more proactive, optimistic view of failure. The Ukrainian-born artist uses grand gestures towards unglamorous subjects or contexts that are largely overlooked. In a way, Bozhkov tries to rectify some failures by immersing himself in them at their sources. Cantata for Twelve Choirs and Several Salamanders (2006), features documentation of a session with local choral ensembles at Barton Springs in Austin, Texas singing "Wade in the Water" – a particular song from the genre of African-American spiritual hymns. The performance was centered on an endangered species of water salamander unique to the springs.


Daniel Bozhkov’s work shows a sort of dedication, taking an impractical approach to an inane goal. He sometimes tends to incorporate a benevolent, communal approach, in other cases, he takes on failure directly, attempting to rectify or subvert human shortcomings by commemoration. Darth Vader Tries to Clean the Black Sea with a Brita Filter (2000) is maybe the easiest to illustrate a sort of 'habitation' of failure, depicting the Star Wars villain pouring purified water into a plastic jug. Not only is the task impossible, but also the situation itself is ridiculous. At the very least, the Sith Lord is entirely overdressed.