Tartmus opens a new international exhibition, “Inconvenient Questions: Contemporary Art from Russia”. The exhibition brings to Tartu a selection of works by active young artists. These artists explore topics that in the Russian-speaking society are often considered taboo, such as sexuality and criticism of power relations. The exhibition will be open until 28 May 2017.
Participating artists: Anna Andrzhievskaja, Aslan Gaisumov, Dmitry Fedorov, Artem Loskutov, Katrin Nenasheva, Kirill Savchenkov, Alisa Yoffe and the art group Zip.
Curator: Julia Polujanenkova
The seven artists and one artist group have a mutual interest in topics that are critical of social conditions: all of them deal with questions which in Russia are not officially forbidden but are seen as taboos or make most people uncomfortable. In the Russian media, the presentation of controversial topics is often one-sided. In this context, artists offer an alternative approach and highlight relevant issues that affect many people.
“Many artists working in Russia need to take into consideration that exhibiting their artworks may result in getting arrested. For most Europeans, including Estonian artists, it seems unfathomable that such a problem could be an inseparable part of their creative process”, says the exhibition’s curator Julia Polujanenkova.
A participating artist, Artjom Loskutov, has been organising the apolitical parade Monstration, where people express themselves via absurd posters and slogans, since 2004. The paradoxical position of artists is clearly illustrated by the fact that Loskutov received the national art award of Innovation for his work, but he has also been arrested several times for organising Monstration.
Aslan Gaisumov is an artist with a rapidly developing international career. In his video Volga, he depicts the topic of escape by telling the true story of how he and his family left their native land Chechnya. Katrin Nenasheva’s performances and actions deal with the penalty system, prisons and militarisation: topics that frighten many people in Russia.
A catalogue accompanies the exhibition, consisting of texts that explain and introduce the overall concept and exhibited works. The catalogue, which is in Estonian, English and Russian, was compiled by Julia Polujanenkova and designed by Tnxalatte. Have a look at the catalogue here.
Consultant: Yuri Yurkin
Graphic design: Tnxalatte
Design of the exhibition: Jevgeni Zolotko
Exhibition team: Richard Adang, Nele Ambos, Rael Artel, Karl Feigenbaum, Katrin Hallas, Joanna Hoffmann, Margus Joonsalu, Hanna-Liis Kont, Heiti Kulmar, Jaanika Kuznetsova, Dan Rotar, Olesja Rotar, Kristel Sibul, Peeter Talvistu, Kristo Tamm, Urmo Teekivi and Piia Õunpuu.
Our thanks to Tiiu Talvistu.
The exhibition is being supported by the Cultural Endowment of Estonia, Polven Food OÜ and the Estonian Embassy in Moscow.
More information:
Julia Polujanenkova
Registrar of Contemporary Art
Phone: +372 588 17807
Email: julia@tartmus.ee
