x

Maker: Iurii Borisovich Leonov

Theatre of the Absurd

Date Made: 1991
Country: Soviet Union

Measurements: 90 cm x 60 cm; 35 7/16 in x 23 5/8 in

Description

This painting illustrates a traditional children's game—"Hunt the Thimble?" or “Cold-Hot.” In this interpretation of the game, the object being hidden and then revealed is a tank rather than a thimble. The text below the game in Russian reads: “Theatre of the Absurd. Starting on January 15, 1991.” On this date, a U.S.-led coalition staged massive air strikes against Iraqi targets. Saddam Hussein responded with a missile attack against Israel; however, due to U.S. pressure, Israel did not retaliate. The depiction of this game with a military vehicle brings the idea of military warfare down to the level of children, thus ridiculing the air attacks and their motives. There is a play on words in the title of this painting "Teatr abSSSRda;" USSR (Russian: SSSR) is incorporated into the word "Absurd."

Accession Number: 2009.053.014

Item Name: Painting
Credit Line: The Ferris Russian Collection, Donated by Tom and Jeri Ferris
Collection/Series: The Ferris Russian Collection, Donated by Tom and Jeri Ferris

Array
(
    [offset] => 1
    [size] => 1
    [records] => Array
        (
            [0] => Array
                (
                    [Description] => This painting illustrates a traditional children's game—"Hunt the Thimble?" or “Cold-Hot.” In this interpretation of the game, the object being hidden and then revealed is a tank rather than a thimble. The text below the game in Russian reads: “Theatre of the Absurd. Starting on January 15, 1991.” On this date, a U.S.-led coalition staged massive air strikes against Iraqi targets. Saddam Hussein responded with a missile attack against Israel; however, due to U.S. pressure, Israel did not retaliate. The depiction of this game with a military vehicle brings the idea of military warfare down to the level of children, thus ridiculing the air attacks and their motives. There is a play on words in the title of this painting "Teatr abSSSRda;" USSR (Russian: SSSR) is incorporated into the word "Absurd."
                    [Measurements] => 90 cm x 60 cm; 35 7/16 in x 23 5/8 in
                    [IdNumber] => 2009.053.014
                    [CreditLine] => The Ferris Russian Collection, Donated by Tom and Jeri Ferris
                    [Materials] => tempera on fiberboard
                    [IdSort2] => 0000053
                    [IdSort1] => 0002009
                    [Title] => Theatre of the Absurd
                    [IdSort4] => 0000000
                    [IdSort3] => 0000014
                    [IdSort6] => 0000000
                    [IdSort5] => 0000000
                    [Maker] => Iurii Borisovich Leonov
                    [OPTION1] => The Ferris Russian Collection, Donated by Tom and Jeri Ferris
                    [DateMade] => 1991
                    [UpdateDate] => 2023-09-07 11:07:29.0
                    [UpdatedBy] => KUNG
                    [Ref] => 6412
                    [FLAG5] => N
                    [ItemName] => painting
                    [LinkedMedia] => Array
                        (
                            [0] => Array
                                (
                                    [MediaRef] => http://23.114.65.41:8082/api/xg/tenants/api/resources/media/221100
                                    [Media_Type] => IMAGE
                                    [Media] => ump.di?e=262B7EE9BF90FFD107F3C3536790AB58ECF760DCEED6309339A4D774AE9BB21B&s=&se=&f=%5Cd0420%5Cu11504201%5C2009_053_014_A_o2.jpg
                                    [Step] => 1
                                    [Media_Locator] => https://piction.wendemuseum.org/piction/
                                )

                        )

                    [PlaceMade] => USSR
                    [Culture] => Soviet Union
                )

        )

    [fetchCount] => 1
    [@controls] => Array
        (
            [records:last] => Array
                (
                    [href] => http://23.114.65.41:8082/api/xg/tenants/api/resources/catalogue/records/OnxdCHmII9HVtd8JKN38Q0O30TgVnPgy?offset=1&limit=1&pagesize=15
                    [title] => Go to last row
                )

            [records:first] => Array
                (
                    [href] => http://23.114.65.41:8082/api/xg/tenants/api/resources/catalogue/records/OnxdCHmII9HVtd8JKN38Q0O30TgVnPgy?offset=1&limit=1&pagesize=15
                    [title] => Go to first row
                )

            [records:clear] => Array
                (
                    [method] => DELETE
                    [href] => http://23.114.65.41:8082/api/xg/tenants/api/resources/catalogue/records/OnxdCHmII9HVtd8JKN38Q0O30TgVnPgy
                    [title] => Clear the result set.
                )

            [self] => Array
                (
                    [href] => http://23.114.65.41:8082/api/xg/tenants/api/resources/catalogue/records/OnxdCHmII9HVtd8JKN38Q0O30TgVnPgy?offset=1&limit=15&pagesize=15
                )

            [records:firstpage] => Array
                (
                    [href] => http://23.114.65.41:8082/api/xg/tenants/api/resources/catalogue/records/OnxdCHmII9HVtd8JKN38Q0O30TgVnPgy?offset=1&pagesize=15
                    [title] => Retrieve a set of records.
                )

        )

    [limit] => 15
    [id] => OnxdCHmII9HVtd8JKN38Q0O30TgVnPgy
    [@namespaces] => Array
        (
            [records] => Array
                (
                    [name] => http://ottawa.axiell.com/api/records.html#
                )

            [resources] => Array
                (
                    [name] => http://ottawa.axiell.com/api/resources.html#
                )

        )

    [title] => catalogue result set
    [@meta] => Array
        (
            [@title] => catalogue records (1-1)
            [@description] => Records fetched from a search result.
        )

)