Moscow Biennale
September 26, 2009
Jean-Hubert Martin chose the title "Against Exclusion" for his edition of the Moscow Biennale for a good reason.
Martin is a well-known curator of contemporary art in Europe – and also an expert on the Russian scene: back in the days of the Soviet Union, he was already organizing exhibitions with contemporary artists from the region.
Martin hopes to introduce Moscow Biennale visitors to art that's off the beaten track – a characteristic of his work that goes back to his earlier experiences in Russia.
"When I came here in the seventies and discovered that there was this crazy little art scene," Martin said.
"That was the first step for me to think: The West is wrong in thinking that everything is just happening in the West. And I thought: there must be interesting people and groups in other countries too."
An artistic leap for Russia
With this idea in mind, Martin has assembled works that reflect all kinds of backgrounds and inspirations. For example, one installation features wax figures of old men shuffling about in wheelchairs.
Belgian artist Koen Vanmechelen's "Cosmopolitan Chicken Project" even features live chickens.
Vanmechelen crossbred international chicken species to show how cultures interact in a globalized world, and at the Moscow Biennale, Russian Orloff chickens are included in the breeding – right before visitors' eyes.
The artist said that while Russia may be a bit behind the times when it comes to contemporary art, this may make it easier to spring ahead to something a little more edgy like his chicken project.
"Everything needs time but sometimes you can jump over things," Vanmechelen said. "In Africa, they never used the fax machine, they went immediately to the Internet, so there is a big chance that in Russia people can jump easily to another kind of context."
Garage art
Even the main venue of the Moscow Biennale fits the festival's anti-exclusion theme.
Proving art can happen anywhere, many of the works are on display at the Garage Centre for Contemporary Culture, which opened one year ago and is located in a former bus shelter.
In addition to the Garage Center, over 100 exhibitions will be on display in 50 different locations throughout Moscow. The third Biennale of Contemporary Art runs for one month.
Author: Mareike Aden/mz
Editor: Toma Tasovac