Unfinished Dissertation

by Boris Mikhailov, Alexis Schwarzenbach

"I, Mikhaylov Boris Andreevich, born 1938, Ukrainian. Father Mikhaylov Andrey Nikolaevich, Ukrainian, born 1909. Mother Mikhaylova Khaya Markovna, Jewish, born 1911. Brother, Mikhaylov Anatoliy Andreevich. The only foreign country I have been to is Poland. I have no criminal record. Now I am employed as a photographer at the House of Political Education (in actual fact I am in charge of cleaning the floors)". In 1985, when the Soviet Union still existed, Mikhaylov created a wonderful series of handcolored and toned photographic prints, integrating philosophical, lyrical or enigmatic statements with pictures of every day life situations. Now that Mikhaylov has become a secret star of the Western art scene -- a "brother" of Ilya Kabakov -- this book shows the poetic power of an artist switching in a staggering way between reality and the artificial. This artist's book is a compelling album of sharp humour, deep sadness and unexpected ruptures that characterize our contemporary lives and our selves.

220 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 1999