Khan’s Palace in Bakhchysarai
The ancient Bakhchysarai is in the south of Ukrainian Crimea. The name of this city is translated from Crimean Tatar, an indigenous language of Ukraine, as “garden palace” – and for a good reason. The picturesque residence of the Crimean Khan is located here. The Girays, Genghis Khan's descendants, started its construction at the beginning of the 16th century. It consists of a grand main building, a park, a mosque, a library, a harem, and many other inner premises. For more than two centuries, this complex was the heart of the Crimean Khanate, the center of spiritual and cultural life. Each new ruler expanded the palace by adding patios, flower beds, and fountains.
It is still impressive, although it used to be four times larger. Russia indeed also played a part in its destruction when annexing Crimea for the first time in the 18th century. Edward Daniel Clark, a traveler and a Cambridge professor, described it as follows: “In Bakhchysarai, the Russians satisfied their barbaric desire to destroy, and did destroy this capital city. In particular, the Khan's palace.”
In 2014, Crimea was again annexed by Russia. In 2017, the Russian occupational authorities initiated so-called restoration work on the palace, resulting in significant damage to the complex. Centuries have passed but Russia's destructive habits have not disappeared.
Insomnia Taxxi (Iryna Novikova)
Insomnia Taxxi (Iryna Novikova) - sound artist, composer, music producer in experimental electronic music and sound design from Ukraine (Kyiv) living and working in Sweden.
She is active in film, theater, sound design for digital art, as well as creator and practitioner of conceptual electronic music compositions. Iryna's sound world is characterized by dark melodies, experimental music with compositional form, using vocals and synthesizers.
She often uses unique video material during her concerts and collaborates with video artists and live VJs.
All her work has a metaphysical, mythological, contemplative, social and/or political subtext.
In the composition were used:
Flute, performance and recording - Serhii Vilka
Fragment of recording TRACES OF CRIMEA • Ensemble Maqam live in the Khans' palace of Bakhchisarai