Pablo Picasso said: "Art is the lie that enables us to realise the truth."
When we escape to that world of imagination and mystery, and let our mind run free, we create something which reflects who we are our and our story. We create art. Behind what may often seem obscure, abstract or even indistinguishable, there's a message. There's a story about life and circumstances, and expressions of pure delight and deep struggle.
Timur Novikov, a non-conventional artist from Russia, along with his friends, were compelled to communicate their discontent with the rule of the Soviet Union and did so through their art.
Their message was heard. The truth was realised.
This story has been featured on Alternative London.
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| Sergei ‘Afrika’ Bugaev (left), Georgy Gurjanov (middle), Oleg Kolomiychuk (behind) and Timur Novikov (right) holding a book gifted by Andy Warhol at the ASSA gallery, 1986. |
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Fine art meets youth culture, alternative music,
pirate video, risqué fashion and daring performance.
This is the work of the New Artists - the
experimental, fluid and sexually expressive group of artists from St Petersburg
in Russia – who during the 1980s and 90s, rebelled against the Soviet
government through colour, shape and stroke.
Ideologically opposed to conformity and
structure, Timur Novikov (a Russian philosopher and art theorist) joined with
his friends to form the New Artists group and began to make art to express
their dissatisfaction with their country’s rule.
In Shoreditch at the Calvert Gallery 22, there is an exhibition currently showcasing the exclusive pieces
of Novikov and his eclectic group known as the Club of Friends,
curated by Ekaterina Andreeva.
Exhibition and Event Organiser Lily Hall said: “They were not formally
educated in art and had no access to materials. They instead used anything they
could get their hands on. Their mother’s shower curtain, stumps of charcoal,
old clothes, embroidered patches, ribbon, film, plastic. Anything.”
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| Marina Dorritis (left) and Lily Hall (right) |
Turned away from studios and public spaces,
the artists still developed a name and following for themselves. During the
time known as the Iron Curtain (the symbolic divide between countries connected
or influenced by the Soviet Union and those states on the other side, which
developed their own alliances), Novikov and his friends twisted this lack of
freedom into absolute freedom.
“Their work was frivolous and expressionistic
yet combined elements of primitivism and modernism, and through their
experiments with art, collective practice and sexual representation, they mapped
the untold
story of Russia,” said Lily.
“Their work actually became renowned
worldwide and was more popular outside of St Petersburg than within the city,”
commented Exhibition and Event Assistant Marina
Dorritis.
With this popularity, Novikov decided to
change the aesthetic. He stepped away from his art, which had become a part of
the society, and decided to push the boundaries yet again.
He formed a second movement of artists
called the New Academy in St Petersburg. He argued that the aesthetic
experience had preserved the European idea of the perfect and and perfect
world, which he wanted to change.
“The change in his style can be best
described as moving from Andy Warhol to Oscar Wilde. There is more humour,
campness and classicalism all done with tongue in cheek,” said Marina.
During the 1990s and 2000s, the New Academy
combined this classicism with contemporary digital technologies to represent
the spirit of freedom, which Novikov continually aspires for, offering a new
perspective of Russia.
“Ironically though, during this time when
Novikov and his friends were advocating for liberty and openness, it was
actually a more free Russia than the democracy we know today,” shared Marina.
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| Photo by Andy Keate |
Club of Friends is one of three exhibitions
the Calvert Gallery 22 will be coordinating this year. Started by Nonna Materkova from Russia in
2009, the gallery is the only not-for-profit institution dedicated to
presenting the contemporary art of Russia and Eastern Europe to UK audiences.
The foundation is committed to opening up
dialogue and discovery through art, culture, research and learning. It operates
on a unique model, gathering the “most active voices from the region to
investigate current directions in artistic practice and theory relating to the
former East,” shared Lily.
“We present a dynamic program of
exhibitions, talks and cross-disciplinary events with both emergent and
established artists,” she added.
In addition to the gallery, other projects
of the foundation include the Calvert Journal (an online guide to creative
Russia), the Calvert Forum (a think tank exploring the role of creative
industries in economic, social and urban development in Russia) and Calvert
Education (a program of learning partnerships linking artists, academics,
students and policy makers).
Club of Friends will run until May 25th
at the Calvert Gallery 22 at 22 Calvert Avenue London E27JP. Entry is free.
See the website for other related events.
From June 18th – August 17th,
the exhibition Close and Far by curator Kate Bush will introduce some of
Russia’s original young voices alongside the work of pre-revolutionary master
Sergei Prokudin-Gorsky with an emphasis on photography, film and video mediums.
Art is so incredibly subjective, but it's such an amazing way to connect with others. I have some favourite pieces and I know that art makes everything better. X
ReplyDeleteI love how you say 'art makes everything better' Ingrid. How beautiful. It really does - whatever form it takes on, whether that be song, dance, a painting, a poem, a story, jewellery making. It brings people joy. A sense of appreciation :)
ReplyDelete