MOSKVAREKA Museum
The Moskva River is a very complex and lengthy water system, which brings together many cities and historical finds.
In addition to its economic and physical properties, the Moscow River has quite a strong and mighty potential to become an object of study and a subject of museum exhibition.
MOSKVAREKA museum is not only about the history, flora and fauna of the capital’s main waterway. It is a metaphor for the transience of life, as turbulent as the river system.
Entrance Group
What is a river in its truest sense? A geographical landmark with rich flora and fauna.
It is a rather complex biological system, which I decided to examine from the perspective of the layering in nature. The first floor is an exposition ABOVE the water level.
Exposition «Above Water Level»
We go through the water lilies. Can it be real? Let’s stay here for a while, in this quiet and peaceful place.
Walking along the surface of the water, along the frozen concrete water lilies, you meet local birds. They hide amongst tall plants — glass screens with samples of dried flowers.
Exposition «Below Water Level»
Basement — exposition BELOW the water level.
We literally immerse in the root system of water lilies and spaces between them housing the monolithic samples of the underwater Moscow River inhabitants. These are references to the time stop.
Nobody can swim away, fish are static, water lilies don’t sink.
Shop
This is where the fishermen empty their nets. They are like a pattern of discovery and retrieval. Catch. Pier. Installation.
Riverbed antiques are placed into the shop and exhibited in fishing nets. The goods are hanging and waiting for the time to come…
Cafe
A metaphor for slowdown — a conceptual solution for a museum café. This space imitates the wet bottom surface, where the settled boats — the dining groups — have gathered.
A dry river bed — the inability to swim away. A place to stop and recharge.
