private moon by leonid tishkov travels across the world

‘private moon’ by leonid tishkov travels the worldimage courtesy leonid tishkov

moscow born physician turned avant-garde artist leonid tishkov has been travelling around the world with his mobile art installation ‘private moon’ – telling the story of ‘a man who met the moon and stayed with her forever’, says tishkov. the project captures a series of stylized and sentimental photographs of himself with a large artificial illuminated crescent moon, which are taken at various locations across china, new zealand, taiwan, the arctic, and france.

‘the moon is a shining point that brings people together from different countries, of different nationalities and cultures – and everyone who gets in its orbit does not forget it ever. it gives fairytale and poetry in our prosy and mercantile world.’

‘moon and hunter’ at the magdalena fjordimage courtesy leonid tishkov

‘private moon’ in the arcticimage courtesy leonid tishkov

private moon in kaohsiung, taiwan – tianliao photo © po-I chenimage courtesy leonid tishkov

‘the lake filled with peaceand me too. i caught a fish but catch the moon.would stay here forever,but there will come a new scurry dayand the moon run away!’

‘the crane for the moon’, kaohsiung, taiwan – xiaogang container yardphoto © po-I chenimage courtesy leonid tishkov

‘autumn swans are all gone.i am sick at inappropriate time,everyone has gone to the moon for a feast.i ask my close friendsto steal the moonand hang it on my window.’

‘at the straw store’ in kaohsiung, taiwan photo © po-I chen image courtesy leonid tishkov

‘hats, bags and umbrellas are all for salethey are made of straws and almost free!buy something, strange foreigner!except that the moon will be never yoursyou can only take away some moonlight’

‘the man and the moon’ kaohsiung, taiwanphoto © po-I chenimage courtesy leonid tishkov

‘on the boat’, kaohsiung, taiwanphoto © po-I chenimage courtesy leonid tishkov

‘we are waiting with the moonfor the fishermen returning late.red flags and the yellow moonare reflected in the sea.where is my reflection?

has it fled with chang’e?

‘under broken bridge’ in kaohsiung, taiwanphoto © po-I chenimage courtesy leonid tishkov

‘I embrace the moon on a big rockthe rock was cast out from the heavenand thrown into the valley by typhoonmy embrace is strong and powerfulbut still unable to keep the fog in my handsas life passed away.’

private moon in kaohsiung, taiwan – at dashu sanhe kilnsphoto © po-I chenimage courtesy leonid tishkov

‘the mountains parted and the mooncame out of the clouds.now my path is clear and straight.but my life may not be long enoughto get the lighthousewhere three rivers join together’ 

‘private moon’, 2002-2005images courtesy leonid tishkov & boris bendikov

‘the moscow moon in a starless sky has sat down on the edge of a roof’

‘private moon’, 2002-2005 images courtesy leonid tishkov & boris bendikov

 ‘like a lunar unicornunder the covers sheshines even brighter’