THE JOYS OF LIFE BEFORE THE RED PLAGUE

~ Aristocratic Elegance of Russia ~

Personal and Artistic Journey

As I uncover the stories and contributions of my ancestors, I am continuously reminded of the profound shifts that have shaped my personal and artistic journey. The history of my family—rooted in the aristocratic elite of pre-revolutionary Russia—has been marked by dramatic change, particularly the displacement caused by the upheaval of the Soviet era. The loss of our heritage, once so firmly grounded in the culture and traditions of old Russia, left me with a sense of disconnection from my roots. Yet, this exploration of my family's past also illuminated the path to reconnection and healing. Moving to the West provided the environment where I could not only rediscover my heritage but also rebuild my identity, allowing me to integrate both the rich history of my family and the new cultural landscapes I encountered. This journey of rediscovery and integration has profoundly influenced my art, where I continue to explore themes of displacement and resilience, seeking to express the complexity of identity and the ongoing process of adaptation.

Discovery and Passion for Heritage

Each time I delve into the records of my family, new discoveries emerge—fragments of history that continue to reveal the depth of my ancestors' lives. The pursuit of these revelations is a journey of passion and dedication, fueled by an insatiable curiosity to understand the past. Through various forms of reserach, I am able to uncover and share new discoveries about my family's history, and I am grateful for the opportunity to learn more about their lives and contributions.

Family Legacy and Aristocratic Roots

I was fortunate to be born into one of Russia's most distinguished pre-revolutionary aristocratic families, the Temnomeroffs. My journey of discovery began with a single document from 1821, marking the first notable achievement of one of my ancestors. Since then, the Temnomeroff family has left its mark on various fields—education, spirituality, military service, and as advisors to the Russian Palace and government officials.

Notable Ancestors and Their Achievements

Among the most revered figures in my family is my Great Grandfather, the Very Reverend Lord Apollo Michailovich Temnomeroff, a towering social and spiritual figure of his time, and a beloved patriarch. His works remain influential, studied by scholars even today. His name frequently appears in research and autobiographies of prominent aristocratic figures. One of the most breathtaking discoveries in this journey was learning from the memoirs of Matilda Kschessinska, the Polish ballerina and mistress to Tsar Nicholas II, that she once rented a room in our family's home in Anapa, South Russia. She even spoke fondly of my Great Uncle, Vladimir Temnomeroff, who was just 19 at the time. Vladimir later became a professor at Harvard and the Sorbonne, as well as the Head of the UN's immigration department post-WWII. His academic contributions, particularly in the fields of mathematics and economics, are still preserved in the libraries of Cambridge and Oxford.

Vladimir Temnomeroff: A Multi-faceted Legacy

Vladimir also had a passion for performance art—psychic and mediumship shows in Paris—and played an instrumental role in founding the Scout Movement in France. His diverse interests and contributions to both academic and spiritual realms are a testament to the breadth of my family's legacy. It was through Vladimir's work in magic tricks that I came to meet an Attache from the Russian Embassy in London, who shared an admiration for my uncle's talents. In my private archive, I uncovered records that revealed how Vladimir supported his family back in Soviet Russia, sending funds to his mother, Pelageja, and his siblings—another story yet to be told.

The Exhibition as the First Chapter

Many have suggested that a book or even a film could be made about my family's remarkable history. This exhibition represents the first chapter of a deeply personal project, offering a small glimpse into my family's private life before the revolution of 1917.

Photographs and Intimate Moments

One wall of the exhibition features professionally taken portraits of family members, captured by skilled photographers in studios of the time. On the opposite wall, I present intimate snapshots from the personal life of the Temnomeroffs, captured using the very cameras owned by my great-grandfather, Lord Apollo Temnomeroff, an avid photographer. With the help of my dear friend and fellow creative, David Champion, we identified the most likely model of one of these cameras. David located a similar one at this year's Old Camera Show in London and, in a meaningful gesture, photographed me with it, recreating the experience of being photographed exactly as my ancestors were over a century ago.

Blending Past and Present

In collaboration with Dan Bachmann, who captured a series of studio portraits of me using his digital Leica, I've also created two contemporary outfits inspired by my family's distinctive style. These garments allow me to blend the past and present—photographed in a modern context yet paying homage to the elegance of my ancestors' era.

A Celebration of Legacy, Courage, and Strength

While this exhibition is a small fragment of a much larger narrative, it is a celebration of courage, strength, and the enduring beauty found in both our differences and our shared human experiences. I invite you to join me in honoring these themes, as we reflect on the ways in which history, art, and identity intertwine across generations.

PS The Camera Club @ 16 Bowden Street is the place where you never know who you can bump in to. On the afternoon of our photo-shoot with Dan we met Ada, who was visiting the club's building doing her architectural research. So we gladly invited her to capture the moment. This is how she became part of the story too! Thank you, Ada!

About Ada: Ada Bartholomew 24 | Nigerian Heritage Architecture Student At London South Bank

"It is an honour being a part of a great piece of work, and all it took was vulnerability and being myself. In a world where the new generation is so stuck up in their own problems making them a bitter sweet individual, they... as in myself lose touch with the present. I was fortunate to be at the right place at the right time to be encounter a lovely experience. My reason for being at the camera club is because it is the case study for a design project at University. Instead of fish out as much information on the building via the holy grail we call the internet, why not visit it in person. There is no better way of learning about something than interacting and seeing it in the flesh.

The mission was to go in, talk to a couple of people gathering information and measure the place to create a floor plan, but fate had better plans in mind. While doing my thing, a lovely lady which I was soon to find was Kate Coe approached me and had an interest in what I was doing. One thing led to another and ended up taking a few photos with her. It still amazes me how a little interaction can turn into an opportunity to create work of art, and now I realise it is places like these that makes this possible."

~ Ada Bartholomew~