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Taxonomies of Power: Photographic Encounters at the State Silk Museum features a unique collection from the museum. When an early 20th century collection of microscopic glass plate negatives was digitized in 2022, the images exposed the many ways that the Soviet Empire employed artists to extend itself into the molecular. Scientific inquiry has long relied on artists to draw evidence or produce empirical knowledge. Today, it is more commonly accepted that truth is not found but is made; and knowledge is situated within a web of many influences, including the culture.

Curators: Alaina Claire Feldman and Mariam Shergelashvili

The exhibition opened in spring 2024 at Mishkin Gallery and in October 2024 at the State Silk Museum. In spring 2025, as part of the exhibition group internship program, a performative reading was organized for the exhibition’s closing event, initiated by co-curator Mariam Shergelashvili. During the internship, participants engaged in creative writing practices and, inspired by the exhibition’s concept and themes, developed a collective text.

The reading performance included selected excerpts from the same titled book published in conjunction with the show, as well as new reflections and observations around the exhibition theme. 

Marking – demarking; Asking – unmasking
 
The Rhythm – The Tone… 
The Shape – The Trace…
All leavings fade 
–   Or moved up on caves. 
Up! Down! Up…
Ambient Blur. 
Cordial Masks…
Transient March… 
 
(be being… be being … be born…)
 
Out of Core,
Out of Store
Nomadic Shore…
 
Sold and Lost.
Informal Cost…
 
Confronted goal… 
All meant Alone.
Permanent Nap 
Transmitted Spheres…
Wings extend
Physical pre – (sense)… 
 
(be being… be being … be born…)

 
presumably,
preconditional stage of my skin
starts here –
when prehistory appears
 
starts there –
 
on your side
 
when I was
cracking
melting
collapsing
grumbling…
 
on your side
 
when I was none
half broken plasm…
crime – left her apart
 
On your side
 
when I have failed
abused and shamed…
 
when “I” is he
when “I” is me
when “I” is hers
I – maintain
so narrow,
   so, stretched…
 
 
Vertex
 
slashing eyes
over sky
till noon till night
uncover past
forget all facts:
 
feeling fad
fasten than 
glory her
until than
till night 
per se
dreams have clashed…
her face – half-paled:
 
horizons unseen
hazel-eyed 
hidden smile…
wet flag –
crossed & clashed!

Poetic texts in ENG. from the book “Taxonomies of Power: Photographic Encounters at The State Silk Museum”. Mariam Shergelashvili