Rust (2026)

A performance by Alexander Tarasenko in collaboration with sound artist Alessandro Paiano.

Duration: 90 minutes
The work premiered at KOPPEL Collective (London) on 30 April 2026, as part of the public programme accompanying 'QUIET RITUALS', Tarasenko’s duo exhibition with Katya Tsareva.
Rust brings together two of Tarasenko’s long-term projects exploring anxiety. The endless neurotic rituals underpinning the series 'It Is Stronger Than You' (2018–present) are explored through the visual language of the series 'I Have Many Times Tried To Become An Insect...' (2023–present), which draws on the artist’s research into ancient rites of passage. The soundscape, specially composed by Paiano for this collaboration and featuring a pulsating rhythm based on the friction of rusted metal and the sound of rust flaking from surfaces, recorded collaboratively by the artists, was accompanied during the performance by a live trumpet improvisation.
Team:
Idea, movement score, headpiece design, and fabrication: Alexander Tarasenko
Soundscape composition and live sound performance: Alessandro Paiano
On-set rope work (external rope bondage): Joshua Roberts
Video: Umi Ishihara
Camera assistant: Camilla Salvatore
Video editing: Alexander Tarasenko

Full video footage available at request.