METAL KINEMATS

TIME OF RATS

1991

The mole is like Russia – a very strong but blind animal controlled by pretty clever rats enjoying themselves on his back.

NIKODYM

1992

Co-operation of genders.

JOCK’S JOKES

1993

This is the first kinemat built by Eduard in Scotland. He discovered new materials – the beautiful remnants of British industrial design. Most of it came from the Scottish Borders chimney sweep Jock Redburn. This work is dedicated to Jock and to the addiction we share – the love for old scrap.

VICTORIA

1994

The figure of a crucified man in a yarmulke comes to life in the centre of moving chains, swords and saws. Its strange dance looks like a nightmare – or an attempt to escape, to fly away – while the clarinet plays Jerusalem of Gold. Dedicated to the memory of our best friend Victor Schwartz who did reach his promised land although too late …

LA STRADA

(ON THE ROAD)

1995

Who pulls the strings? Who is being pulled? An old story, an old tune, a road without an end. The title refers to the Federico Fellini film of the same name.

THE LAST EAGLE OF THE HIGHLANDS

1994

Dedicated to Mike McGrady, who spent years studying the behaviour of Scottish Golden Eagles. Their population had severely declined, as spruce trees in commercial plantations in the Highlands were planted too close to each other in order to maximise profit from the timber. The eagles, with their huge wing span, could not hunt there and had to leave the place where they were born. So did many people of different nationalities, who could not find enough space to spread their wings in their homelands.

FORGET-ME-NOT

1996

Dedicated to Maggy Lenert Stead, who presented us with a funny piece of scrap found in her vegetable garden. Maggy loves our native Russia in spite of her knowledge about its dark and dangerous side. But who knows where these three are heading…

AURORA, THE BATTLESHIP OF THE REVOLUTION

1996

According to Soviet legend, in 1917 the gun of this military ship shot a signal to launch the October Revolution in Russia – the social experiment which lasted 70 years and cost the lives of 60 million people. The ship is still moored in the centre of St Petersburg. Dedicated to the late George Wyllie, the Scottish sculptor and creator of the peaceful giant The Paper Boat.

CRUSADER

2000

What a joy to march in a crowd, to be part of something – whatever the cause, whatever the banners.

SELF-PORTRAIT WITH MONKEY

2002

The soundtrack for this sculpture is a traditional Russian tune for barrel-organ – a lover laments leaving his beloved and his homeland.  It was recorded for us by a friend, the artist and philosopher Axel – Boris Axelrod (1928-2004) – who was expelled from the USSR by the KGB in the 1970s.

ORIENT EXPRESS

2002

The Orient Express is an image of Death – which is seen as female in Russian culture – riding a railcar over the vast Steppes of Russia.  It recalls the devastating revolution and civil war in Russia (1917-23) when opposing armies travelled endlessly across the country to fight each other.

MASTER & MARGARITA

2002

Dedicated to the memory of Tim Stead (1952-2002), the unique master of wood and artist of life, who loved Master and Margarita by Michael Bulgakov.  In the novel, the Devil visits Moscow in the 1930s, in the guise of a circus artist. He behaves more humanely than most humans.

RAG-N-BONE MAN

2002

For many years Eduard was finding materials for his work at the Barras Market, just a 10 minutes walk from his workshop.  Rag ’n’ Bone Man is a tribute to the traders of the Barras, connoisseurs of old junk.

SHAMAN

2002

TREE OF LIFE

2005

In 2005, Eduard Bersudsky won a Creative Scotland Award, which gave Sharmanka a unique opportunity to collaborate with the renowned Derevo Theatre.

The kinemat Tree of Life, based on both Slavic and Celtic beliefs in the magical relationship between humans, trees and animals, became part of the performance The Druid Clock at the Royal Scottish Museum in Edinburgh at New Year 2006.

WILLY THE BELFRY

1994-2011

Willy was a Shetland pony who patiently watched Eduard work in the first few years of our time in Scotland.  Eduard made a kinemat dedicated to him which originally featured a barrel-organ on his back.  Eventually it wore out and Willy stood still and silent.  Then, in 2011, he got a new load from the master – the belfry made of Singer sewing machines and bells from Jaffa flea market.

BEAR’S TOWER

2012

Everyone is seriously busy with their tasks, but the bear has climbed to the roof and is happy flying his swallows.