David Ter-Oganyan was born in 1981 in Rostov-on-Don and lives in Varna (Bulgaria). David Ter-Oganyan is a prominent figure of Russian actionist and activist art of the 1990s and 2000s, which is critical both of the art world and the political system. He works in numerous media. Alongside collectively realized actions and diverse projects, including curatorial activities, he has exhibited paintings, drawings, object art, photography and video. The breadth of the subject matter he deals with is extensive, ranging from personal existential experiences to reflections on art or to an analysis of social and political life in Russia. Violence and the necessity of opposing it are central themes of his work. His formal repertoire is varied, equally encompassing abstraction and figuration.
The Color of Blood
C-print, 2023
Confined to an apartment in a small seaside town, the artist engages in a solipsistic exercise of taking extreme close-up photographs of his fingers. The camera's flash pierces the skin exposing the blood vessels beneath it. Exposing himself to the camera, the artist puts into question the borders of his own body.
