Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Art Muzeon; home to an array of sculpture and monuments torn down in the post-1991 wave of anti-Soviet sentiment.
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Contemporary Art
In the immediate post-Soviet years contemporary painters of note abandoned Russia for the
riches of the West. Today, with increased economic prosperity, many of the most promising
young artists are choosing to stay put. There is unprecedented interest in contemporary art,
as entrepreneurs are investing their new-found wealth in established and up-and-coming
artists. Industrial space is being converted into art galleries such as Vinzavod. The former
Red October chocolate factory is packed with galleries and studio space.
The best-known artists in Russia today are individuals who have been favoured by politi-
cians in power, meaning that their work appears in public places. You might not know the
name Alexander Burganov (b 1935), but you will certainly recognise his sculptures, which
grace the Arbat and other locales. More notorious than popular is the artist and architect
Zurab Tsereteli (b 1934), whose monumental buildings and statues are ubiquitous in Mo-
scow.
Religious painter Ilya Glazunov (b 1930) has been a staunch defender of the Russian
Orthodox cultural tradition, while Alexander Shilov (b 1943) is famous for his insightful
portraits of contemporary movers and shakers.
The most intriguing aspect of Moscow's contemporary art scene is not the established
artists with their own named galleries, but rather the up-and-coming creatives who are
stashed at the city's art centres. Artists now have more freedom than they ever did in the
past to depict all aspects of Russian life, with even the government pitching in to fund pres-
tigious events such as the Moscow Biennale of Contemporary Art. That said, contemporary
artists and curators risk prosecution, especially if they tackle such sensitive topics as the war
in Chechnya, the Russian Orthodox Church or the Russian government.
Contemporary Art
Garage Museum of Contemporary Art
Vinzavod
Multimedia Art Museum
