Manifesta purposely strives to keep its distance from what are often seen as the dominant centres of artistic production, instead seeking fresh and fertile terrain for the mapping of a new cultural topography.

Claire Fontaine, FR

In preparation for this work the French artist Claire Fontaine exhumed the recent history of Pripyat, a “model city” designed according to Soviet standards, once entirely inhabited by the workers of the nuclear plant in Chernobyl. With her installation she created a site for cultural events which also served as a gathering place for local residents. It was illuminated by a neon sign from the House of Culture in the abandoned town, a reminder and warning of the disaster.