MOSCOW. TSUM: Spatial Liturgy

25 September — 25 October, 2009

III Moscow Biennale of Contemporary Art
Artist and curator Oleg Kulik, in collaboration with Victor Ribas, Denis Kryuchkov and Hermes Zygott


The project was an original author’s comment to the history of contemporary art of XX-XXI centuries with the Moscow Conceptualism, Kabakov-type total installation practice and 1960-2000-s performance as its heroes.

Project was based on totally innovative art decision of Spatial Liturgy. It was previously developed by Oleg Kulik in his I Believe project during the II Moscow Biennale of Contemporary Art and his production of Claudio Monteverdi’s Vespro della Beata Vergine demonstrated in Thйвtre du Chвtelet in Paris in 2009. The popularity of the artist and recognition of his works can be seen in the number of audience that visit Oleg Kulik’s exhibitions – in 2007 nearly 40 000 people visited the I Believe project.

The new project of Oleg Kulik «MOSCOW. TSUM» was demonstrated on 5000 square meters of exhibition area of two floors in TSUM in the very centre of Moscow. It is a meditation project on the most significant, sacred senses of Moscow art of the 1960-2000-s, presented in interactive form – as a dialogue with the spectator, emerging in the space of voices. The very space in the concept is presented as some descriptive language helping to understand what among the things produced during the recent twenty-thirty years is still seen and fully sounds today.

The ideas chosen relate, on one side, to the most significant artistic events and figures of the past decades, on the other side they are based on contemporary art’s material. It is the combination of the sound works by A.Brener (“In this untalented country”), Kabakov-Grois (“The game”), O.Kulik, imitation of the famous A.Monastyrsky’s performance “Talking to the lamp” and street performance of Osmolovsky, actions of A.Ter-Oganyan, E.Kovylina, Fenso and traditional sacral symbolic in contemporary art.

Installation itself is a long labyrinth three and a half meters wide that occupies all the exhibition area. The walls of the labyrinth are made of mirrors and half-transparent coat that can be transparent from one side and mirror from the other, depending on the lightning. Travelling along labyrinth is full of shadow-appearing and crossing voices. Shadows are shown on large screens that are hidden from spectators.

«MOSCOW. TSUM» project was the search of possibility to translate most vividly the local events into the language of contemporary light and sound installation. The name of the project is not accidental as well – it reflects the author’s idea: the opening of the space itself, its sacral possibilities.

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About

 

The RNA Foundation is a cultural platform that aims at promoting established as well as up and coming Russian artists and creative individuals. Founded by Victoria Golembiovskaya, the RNA utilizes its wide reaching connections to provide support and exposure to artists, facilitating their relations with curators, dealers and critics. With experience in art management and curating Golembiovskaya established RNA in order to contribute to the Russian art education system, diversifying its narrow scope and implementing a wider, international engagement.

 

By providing space and means for artists to develop their practice, our goal is to establish a constantly expanding and developing network, where the Russian contemporary art scene can be introduced to a wider art market, galleries and institutions across the globe. To do so, an exploration of new ideas is needed, as well as an active expanding of boundaries of the media available. This progressive outlook allows us to bring out the collaborative potential of not only museums and galleries we work with, but also of other foundations, auction houses and art institutions.

 

One aspect of our future projects is to establish a series of workshop spaces that will provide an interdisciplinary environment for Russian artists from all backgrounds and with varying degree of experience. Serving as a meeting point and an exchange ground for cultural capital, these work and gallery spaces would also function as lecture theatres for educational purposes and public events. We also plan to create residencies between Russian and international artists, where we hope to instigate a much needed cross-fertilization and collaboration.

 

However in order to realize such varied projects, we often need financial support whether from an individual, patron, trust or company. Philanthropy and charity are important factors in realizing any cultural project and we would be happy to work with you, directing the need of social engagement and cultural support through RNA’s activities.

 

Active since 2008, RNA Foundation is an exciting, passionate organization that has exhibited and curated around the world, devoting our focus on international artistic progression.

Art Advisory

 

Before launching the RNA Foundation in 2008, Victoria Golembiovskaya worked as a film producer and artistic director, gaining a vast experience in art management and further expanding her knowledge of history of art, which has graned the RNA foundation an original place and point of view within the international art community.


Our service is second to none; we provide consultations for the establishment and maintenance of private collections, as well as for large-scale curatorial projects. We have the contacts and resources to get a hold of rare works from all over the world for both private and public clients. In the last three years alone the RNA Foundation has produced shows in London, Moscow and Venice, handling valuable works in unprecedented environments, with a priority in presenting them in unique yet elegant manner. While maintaining a high standard and a rigorous vision we tailor our services to the client.


As a consultant, we go further than most agencies, providing legal advice for sales, organizing transportation of art works, and of course taking care of the acquisition process, operating on a strictly confidential basis.

CONTACTS

 

Katerina Tesa
+7 926 2497367
kate@rnafoundation.com