Leiderman’s video “Hasidic Duchamp” begins with shots of a forest glade. In the background there are several trees. In the foreground, to the right is a big one. Suddenly, a person dressed in a bear costume appears from behind this tree. We hear a rhythmic and joyful Jewish song. While dancing, the bear alternately throws out its right or left leg, leans in different directions and runs a few steps forward or backward. In his hands, or rather in his paws, he holds two books dedicated to the famous artist Marcel Duchamp, who created the works of art in the twentieth century, which are considered to be the beginning of modern world art. It is these works that are depicted on the pages of these books. After dancing for a little more than a minute, the bear retreats behind a tree.

This work is a symbolic meeting of symbols of various cultural elements of Leiderman’s personality. The first element is the Jewish origin represented by the melody. The second element is a bear costume, symbolizing the artist’s life in Moscow. And the third element is modern art, which is symbolized by the books about Marcel Duchamp.

This work is a conversation about personality development, where every element is important. It is a reminder that life is a constant dialogue between what we know and what remains hidden. The more diverse its fragments are, the more complex it is, despite its external simplicity, and it requires careful study and understanding. Art is the best mediator in the knowledge of personality.