About the Artist

 

Pavel Barinov is an artist and director whose artistic practice draws on documentary and fictional elements. At times, my works are an attempt to capture the precarious state between a belief in grand ideas and the awareness of their inadequacy.

 

What does "awareness of inadequacy" mean?

 

I believe that Social Practice Art can unite people, but I understand that bureaucracy and apathy can stand in the way. For me, the process of creation itself is more important than achieving a perfect outcome.

 

Current work and "Tosnarechka"

 

Currently, I live in Serbia, where I am working on creating an art residency that will become a space for creative experiments and dialogue.
 

"Tosnarechka" is a name I use on the internet, a music project, and an artistic statement that combines several ideas.
 

In an era where everything is public and recorded, a pseudonym is an attempt to regain control over one's identity.
 

The name likely refers to a place connected to a river (Tosna River). This creates a sense of locality, personal history, and a tangible, specific space, even if it only exists in the imagination.

The names we use on social media to hide our real ones are not just a cynical game or a naive attempt to escape reality. It's a strategy that allows us to be both ourselves and someone else at the same time—protecting ourselves while revealing ourselves, being self-ironic while sincerely searching for meaning in our digital existence. This reflects our desire for authenticity in a world where authenticity is always just a temporary construct.