Context
The trolleybus in Kaluga is the most popular form of public transport. It was launched in 1956 and from the first day became an integral part of the city’s daily life. Trolleybuses are sometimes affectionately called "sheds" because of the dilapidated condition of some models.
This type of transport has become deeply embedded in the city’s cultural identity and is frequently mentioned in historical and regional studies. To support and preserve the trolleybus system, Kaluga has begun placing advertisements on the sides of the vehicles.
Sensing the potential of moving transport for quickly spreading an artistic message, Grisha Sharov created the artwork "Without T" on one of the trolleybuses.
This type of transport has become deeply embedded in the city’s cultural identity and is frequently mentioned in historical and regional studies. To support and preserve the trolleybus system, Kaluga has begun placing advertisements on the sides of the vehicles.
Sensing the potential of moving transport for quickly spreading an artistic message, Grisha Sharov created the artwork "Without T" on one of the trolleybuses.
- Grisha SharovArtistIn this work, I reflect on what transformation means to me by missing the letter ‘T'. The letter only appears at the very end. In this way, the piece intrigues and draws the viewer to read the entire text in a loop.
The trolleybus in Kaluga is the most popular form of public transport. It was launched in 1956 and from the first day became an integral part of the city’s daily life. Trolleybuses are sometimes affectionately called "sheds" because of the dilapidated condition of some models.
This type of transport has become deeply embedded in the city’s cultural identity and is frequently mentioned in historical and regional studies. To support and preserve the trolleybus system, Kaluga has begun placing advertisements on the sides of the vehicles.
Sensing the potential of moving transport for quickly spreading an artistic message, Grisha Sharov created the artwork "Without T" on one of the trolleybuses.
This type of transport has become deeply embedded in the city’s cultural identity and is frequently mentioned in historical and regional studies. To support and preserve the trolleybus system, Kaluga has begun placing advertisements on the sides of the vehicles.
Sensing the potential of moving transport for quickly spreading an artistic message, Grisha Sharov created the artwork "Without T" on one of the trolleybuses.
- Grisha SharovArtistIn this work, I reflect on what transformation means to me by missing the letter ‘T'. The letter only appears at the very end. In this way, the piece intrigues and draws the viewer to read the entire text in a loop.
Process
Form of art object: work on moving public transport
Style: conceptualism
Material used: ORAJET print film, acrylic markers
Style: conceptualism
Material used: ORAJET print film, acrylic markers
- Anna KoltyrinaExecutive ProducerIn Kaluga, we were wrapping a trolleybus. It was an interesting and rather unusual process. We got into it because we decided to use a special film hand-painted by the artist Grisha Sharov. At first, we thought about painting directly on the trolleybus itself, but the municipal authorities didn’t approve that option. Still, the challenges didn’t stop us — we came up with an alternative solution.
- Anna KoltyrinaExecutive ProducerIn Kaluga, we were wrapping a trolleybus. It was an interesting and rather unusual process. We got into it because we decided to use a special film hand-painted by the artist Grisha Sharov. At first, we thought about painting directly on the trolleybus itself, but the municipal authorities didn’t approve that option. Still, the challenges didn’t stop us — we came up with an alternative solution.
To realize the text-based work, Grisha Sharov designed his own font and placed a stencil of the letters onto a layout, which was then sent to print. He tested the adhesive film used for wrapping the vehicle to make sure it could withstand wear and tear. Grisha hand wrote the text onto the film using a marker, then had it laminated to fix the result, and finally ran it through a car wash to ensure the writing wouldn’t be damaged by lamination or high-pressure water.
To realize the text-based work, Grisha Sharov designed his own font and placed a stencil of the letters onto a layout, which was then sent to print. He tested the adhesive film used for wrapping the vehicle to make sure it could withstand wear and tear. Grisha hand wrote the text onto the film using a marker, then had it laminated to fix the result, and finally ran it through a car wash to ensure the writing wouldn’t be damaged by lamination or high-pressure water.
Film painting and trolleybus wrapping
- Anna KoltyrinaExecutive ProducerThe film was painted by hand in the theatre basement of Kaluga’s Pro Art’s space. Meanwhile, the trolleybus was being painted yellow right at the depot. Then came the night-time wrapping, followed by an early morning rollout — before dawn. There was also a small chase after our moving object in search of the best camera angle. We finally found it on the new Kaluga bridge, where the trolleybus passed through in a cinematic moment, lit by the morning sun.
- Anna KoltyrinaExecutive ProducerThe film was painted by hand in the theatre basement of Kaluga’s Pro Art’s space. Meanwhile, the trolleybus was being painted yellow right at the depot. Then came the night-time wrapping, followed by an early morning rollout — before dawn. There was also a small chase after our moving object in search of the best camera angle. We finally found it on the new Kaluga bridge, where the trolleybus passed through in a cinematic moment, lit by the morning sun.
Author
- Grisha Sharov (Bratsk)ArtistGrisha Sharov is a street artist and curator from the city of Bratsk, and the founder of the solo festival "One for All". His practice focuses primarily on conceptual art, particularly text-centered street art.
Grisha Sharov is a street artist and curator from the city of Bratsk, and the founder of the solo festival "One for All". His practice focuses primarily on conceptual art, particularly text-centered street art.
"THE LAST SUPPER", Bratsk, 2018
A work created in collaboration with Sanya Zakirov as part of the PROSTfest festival. Omsk
"House of Strawberries", Baikalsk, 2022
The mural was created by
Grisha Sharov
Artist
Anna Koltyrina
Executive Produce
Victor Dyuzhev
Technical Director
Maria Kochneva
Executive producer of the project
Maria Ushakova
Creative producer of the project
Polina Ej
Project Manager
Yulia Bulygina
Communications Manager
Ivan Fiev
Development Director
Anton Seleznev
Photographer
Roman Vlasov
Videographer