ST. LOUIS, MO.- The World Chess Hall of Fame presents Anatomy is Destiny by Liliya Lifánova, with choreography by Davy Bisaro and sound design by Sebastian Alvarez. The performance will take place at the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis on February 15, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. after a brief talk by Lifánova and OUT OF THE BOX: Artist Play Chess curator Bradley Bailey.

Liliya Lifánova’s Anatomy is Destiny was one of seven works featured in the exhibition OUT OF THE BOX: Artists Play Chess on display at the World Chess Hall of Fame from September 9, 2011 to February 12, 2012. Curated by Bradley Bailey, assistant professor of art history at Saint Louis University, OUT OF THE BOX: Artists Play Chess explored artworks that consider chess both at the formal level and at the level of actual play. Comprising a wide breadth of media, the selection of artworks by Tom Friedman, Barbara Kruger, Liliya Lifánova, Yoko Ono, Diana Thater, Gavin Turk, and Guido van der Werve demonstrate an integration of chess that goes beyond the visual, incorporating elements of play or strategy that invite the viewer to reflect on the game’s intricate operations.

The title Anatomy is Destiny, a direct reference to the psycho-theory of Sigmund Freud, invokes the highly controversial theories that form the foundation of the psychosexual development of young boys and girls known as the Oedipus complex. This work consists of two components: the installation of garments called The Wardrobe: Game in Waiting, and the full-scale performance in which performers don the garments and execute the moves of an imaginary chess match between Marcel Duchamp and his infamous female alter ego Rrose Sélavy that was envisioned by the artist Arman in 1972. Inspired by a diverse array of historical military fashions and constructed of linen backed with cotton, each garment in the wardrobe was designed by Lifánova to restrict the movement of the performer in such a way that approximates the respective movements of that piece on the game board.

Liliya Lifánova, artist
An American born in Kyrgyzstan, Lifánova’s matrix of influence developed out of the ongoing political and socio-economic reforms of the former Soviet nation of her birth, as well as the traditional nomadic lifestyle and customs of the Kyrgyz Land. In 2010, Lifánova received her Master of Fine Arts degree from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and was a nominee for the Claire Rosen and Samuel Edes Foundation Art Prize. In 2011, Lifánova was the recipient of a Fulbright fellowship to Russia and an artist residency in Spain, where she worked on a video project at the Center for Research and Creativity Casamarlés (CeRCCa) in Llorenç del Penédes and at La Fragua, Cordoba exploring transience and nomadism. Lifánova’s work can be seen at liliyalifanova.com.

Davy Bisaro, choreographer
Bisaro spent her childhood in rural British Columbia, Canada. She began dancing as an adult living in Oxford, England. Bisaro earned her degree in dance at Simon Fraser University’s School for the Contemporary Arts in Vancouver. She has recently relocated to Toronto, Ontario, after living and working in Chicago for two years. In Chicago, she choreographed and performed in diverse spaces, creating work for both trained and untrained movers. Bisaro has also collaborated with artists in a number of different mediums, including sculpture, textile, video, and new media. More information about her work can be found at davybisaro.com.

The World Chess Hall of Fame
The World Chess Hall of Fame (WCHOF) is a nonprofit, collecting institution situated in the heart of Saint Louis. The WCHOF is the only institution of its kind and offers a variety of programming to explore the dynamic relationship between art and chess, including educational outreach initiatives that provide context and meaning to the game and its continued educational impact.

Saint Louis has quickly become a national and international chess destination. The success of the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis and the opening of the World Chess Hall of Fame brought international attention to the city of Saint Louis. The WCHOF is home to both the U.S. and World Chess Halls of Fame, but its scope is not limited to the chess enthusiast. The World Chess Hall of Fame is an arts-based institution that presents innovative exhibitions of artistic and historical significance from nationally and internationally recognized artists and collectors.

In addition, the World Chess Hall of Fame offers interpretive programs that provide unique and exciting ways to experience art, history, science, and sport through chess. Since its inception, chess has challenged artists and craftsmen to interpret the game through a variety of mediums resulting in chess sets of exceptional artistic skill and creativity. The WCHOF seeks to present the work of these craftsmen and artists while educating visitors on the game itself.

By enhancing public understanding and appreciation of art, history, science, and chess, the WCHOF will offer a unique experience while advancing the understanding of the game. Our goal is to expand the cultural and intellectual opportunities in Saint Louis.

This performance was produced by the World Chess Hall of Fame with the help of the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis and associate sponsor, Saint Louis University Department of Fine and Performing Arts.