The Russian collecting and commission scene was brought into focus as a representative of the way in which many non Western instituitions are currently commisioning and producing art. The moderator Viktor Misiano invited three speakers who take a critical stance to the russian scene: Andrei Parshikov, Kety Chukhrov and Vilensky Dmitry.
Andrei Parshikov, curator, explained many carachteristics of contemporary russian art, explaining how it shows the russian State in a positive light and how there was an intolerance to artistic work projecting a narrative outside this centralised body of art. He described some of the exhibitions that he had curated both in private russian galleries and in the West.
Kety Chukhrov explained how post-soviet Russia has taken a different direction to the european socio-economic system: she explained how the numerous private art instituions, that have sprung up in post-soviet space, work in tandem with the State in an attempt to legitimise and provide a modern face to the State. The art that they are commisioning is attempting to catch up with what they percieve as the global art scene, however the superficial nature of this activity is actually removing them from the reality of a system that is in crisis.
Vilensky Dmitry is a russian artist who is in fact focused on reality, creating politcally critical works relevant to the local area. He explained how his work was not accepted within Russia, pointing out that an exhibition of his works had not been held since 2006. His works are however available online and gain attention outside of Russia.
Viktor Misiano suggested that the soviet system of repression has been replaced by a system of control that ignores criticism. He described the current situation as an intermediary phase, and believes that there will soon be a point of realisation that russian art is failing to capture the international scene. The floor was then opened up for questions.
The legitimacy of different means of expression was touched upon and the example of russian cinema was brought up as a medium that currently does take a critical stance to life in the russian provinces.
The speakers suggested that Russia and other non first world countries lack the level of dialetics that the Western system functions upon. Thus any critical pieces or oppositions are being sidelined, in the attempt to catch up with an imagined idea of the global scene.
by Eleanor Bouchard
publishing by alessia
onDate 21.05.2011
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