GES-2: Local memory and professional identity. Materials of an applied anthropological study

Abstract

The publication presents a collection of oral narratives of former employees of the Moscow power plant GES-2 about its history and professional everyday life. GES-2 is the one of the oldest power stations in Moscow. It is located in the city center on the Bolotny Island and stopped working in 2016. A cultural space of the same name will be created in the building upon a reconstruction. In-depth interviews with former employees of the now shut-down station were taken in 2016-2017 as a part of applied anthropological research commissioned by the V-A-C Foundation engaged in creating the GES-2 cultural space. Oral narratives recorded during the project dwell on the history of the GES-2, the professional daily life of the power plant employees, professional traditions and folklore. These materials will be included in the new archive of the GES-2 cultural space and should become a source of inspiration for contemporary artists who want to work with local identity and memory of the place in their art.