Press Release

Go Game: A Reconciliation of Opposites
“The door should be lifted off its hinges to provide a free passage between here and there, between yes and no, between above and below, between left and right.<…> Life should proceed, from birth to death, from death to birth, unbroken like the path of the sun. Everything should proceed on this path.”
Carl Jung ~Nox Quarta, Liber Novus

Duchamp's chess philosophy reflects a basic human concern: reconciling life's dualities through game. Following the idea, the Go Game Project, based on a board game from China, known as Weiqi, goes far beyond it. While simple in rules, Go's strategy mirrors life, where winning without force is its highest art.

Seven immigrant artists from the former USSR, now living across Europe and Asia, explore this metaphor through personal and social experiences.

Their collective installation reflects their life journeys, where every step is like a move in Go, shaping the future. As they navigate internal and external contradictions, they engage in a dialogue with the public, exploring the tension between decisions and their consequences.

The artists focus on the liminal space—the "in-between" moments, both allegoric and physical—where decisions are made, but the future remains undefined. Duchamp's concept of “infrathin,” the subtle differences between closely related things, helps them explore this gap.

By metaphorically removing the "door" of duality, the artists reveal the space where creation happens, allowing transformation from division to unity.

Sculptures of Go Stones symbolize a journey towards self-awareness, encouraging reflection on life, death, balance, and freedom. They highlight the duality within all of us, showing that through conscious choices, we can inspire personal growth and inner balance. Paintings, representing color as the bridge between black and white, embody the emotional connection between our inner will and outer thought.

The Go Game installation invites viewers to step into this liminal space and engage with the tension of opposites. As the artists explore their own dualities, they ask participants to reflect on their own life's complexity, leaving the door open for the next move—toward unity.

Julia Sysalova, Curator
Art Critic - Member of International Association of Art Critics
Founder of International Art Communication School
Vice President of Institute of the Mediterranean Culture, Greece