Nukerashka (sculpture)
prototype for fiberglass sculpture 150x180x120cm 2022

Temnikova & Kasela gallery's presentation at Paris Internationale 2022 centres around Nukerashka, the Cash-created blend of the nuclear mushroom cloud and a popular Soviet time cartoon character, Topple or Cheburashka. It was invented by Russian children's writer Eduard Uspensky in  1965. The character's name Nukerashka is made up of two words: "nuke" and "rashka" (Russ(ia)ka), one of the prevalent denominators of contemporary Russia, circulating predominantly in youth culture. Cheburashka had also been recently used by Russian state propaganda to promote the Sochi Winter Olympic games.

Image credit Margot Montigny