3 place
The Compromise
2019
Vyatka Dandy
“Vyatka Dandy" or Viktor (72) is from Kirov, and he got his nickname for unique outfits. He used to play the bayan in the House of Culture, had a passion for theatre and bright costumes. When he was forced to retire due to a disability, the entire city became his stage. Every morning, Viktor dresses in one of his "screaming" outfits (handmade) and heads out to parade through the main streets of Kirov.
Viktor remembers that in the Soviet period, the state organizations used to control workers of cultural institutions. Therefore, in his free time, he allowed himself to wear just a cap and white shirt. One day, when he was riding his bicycle past a lumber yard, he got ambushed by several men and beaten to near death. He got hit in different parts of his body, but ambushers aimed for his face. To this day, Viktor wonders how he managed to survive. He got beaten because of his cap.
"I remember that we were forbidden to wear bright clothes and told myself: that's it, now I'm going to dress in such a way, that even horses will turn their heads."
Viktor is posing outside of his house.
"Strangers give nicknames for my costumes. The name for this one is "Yudashkin otdihaet." I bought the hat from the one place, blazer - from another, in the third I bought cloth and sewed pants."
*Valentin Yudashkin is a Russian fashion designer. It is a joke, and in this context "Yudashkin otdihaet" means that Dandy's costumes are so good, that even Yudashkin will be put to shame.
Viktor poses in the courtyard of his home and sings a popular song by Gazmanov called "Bezkozirka belaya". The song is about the navy in USSR.
Viktor poses in the centre of Kirov.
"I bought knee-socks on a street market, pants in the thrift store; though this coat is for women, I got it for free. After beads, I got a violin - now I look like a Stradivari. I'm always trying to be creative and avoid copying others. However, my costumes may resemble some famous characters."
Viktor poses at the bus stop from which he travels to the centre of the town.
"Word "awardee" is frequently mentioned on television. Nobel Prize Awardee, awardee this and that. However, on the street, they all look the same - like a driver or mechanic. The awardee should look like "Awardee." That's why I created this costume and called it "Awardee."
Viktor poses by the entrance to his house.
"This summer season outfit has a business nature; I'm a pensioner, and my business is grocery shopping and to surprise strangers. When I create outfits, I consider the lines, form and colours. I would add bright spots to the grey so the costume would be not just a costume but a celebratory costume. Blazer is from the store called "Spasibo" (Thank You) from the bin "besplatno (for free)."
Victor poses in his courtyard.
"Groom’s suit in summer style. The white with red makes this suit attractive. When the colour, tone and lines match up together, the clothes automatically turns into celebratory costume.
Viktor poses in front of houses in his neighbourhood.
"I own this coat for like 40 years. I bought it a long time ago in the thrift store. Two years ago I found a lot of bright scarves from abroad in the thrift store and remembered about the grey coat. I realized that if I add that blue scarf to it, it could be an "ensemble." In the end, It turned into an "ensemble" to a certain extent."
Viktor poses in his courtyard.
"Once I went to the thrift store. Upon arriving, I was told to come back the next day and that they would have some unique coat for me. No one would purchase it anyway, but it would come in handy for my outfit. This coat has a french cut. I made a special French-style hat for it. Combined with the case, it turned into an impressive outfit. Walking down the street, strangers ask me: "Parlez-vous francais? Parlez-vous francais?"
I reply: "Parle, parle."
Viktor poses at the bus stop from which he travels to the centre of the town.
"Although my outfits have a quite serious nature, I can't resist and add a bit of irony: this costume – prototype of a modern citizen. You can immediately tell that this is an intelligent person walking, maybe even a trading company employee."
Viktor poses on the street close to his house.
"This blazer is a gift from the thrift store so that I can create a costume. So I made an Italian bandit and a spy outfit with the crest."
