A new Contemporary Art Show
December 18-19, 2010
Opening:
December 17th, 2010
Venue:
Red October, Moscow
COSMOSCOW to launch this December a new contemporary art show in the heart of the Russian capital.
COSMOSCOW, a new contemporary Art Show, is pleased to announce its first-ever installment to be held in the heart of Moscow this December. Forty major galleries, approximately one quarter of which are Russian and three quarters international, are set to build the most significant bridge yet between Western contemporary art and the fast-emerging Russian market.
The venue for COSMOSCOW is the legendary former Red October Chocolate Factory, a vibrant cultural and business community situated in an architectural masterpiece within walking distance of Red Square, the Kremlin, and Moscow’s top museums. After the factory relocated its production in 2008, a show from Gagosian Gallery established Red October as a key venue for hosting ambitious international art exhibitions. Group exhibitions organized by BAIBAKOV art projects and the 3rd Moscow Biennale followed in 2009, while this year saw the opening of Strelka Institute for Architecture, Media, and Design and its ambitious public programme headed by Rem Koolhaas.
With its unique approach and setting, COSMOSCOW provides a new way for galleries to gain maximum exposure at minimal risk. Participation is by invitation only and on an all-inclusive base. Each gallery’s stand will be the same size; their position will be determined by drawing lots online. The Show’s brief time-frame – lasting just one weekend – and invitation-only status will create an exclusive environment enabling them to test the Russian market and get to know the local clientele first-hand, without the commitment and high expenditure usually associated with global art fairs.
COSMOSCOW’s groundbreaking format leaves it poised to take advantage of the fast-growing Russian art market at a time when the Western art world prepares for its winter hiatus. Russians celebrate Orthodox Christmas in January and, as such, do not go on holiday until December 31st.
COSMOSCOW also comes at a time when the fast-growing Russian art scene is making its presence felt around the world. Russian collectors are increasingly visible on the international market and have launched some of Moscow’s most prominent contemporary art initiatives in recent years. Some, including Stella Art Foundation (2005), Ekaterina Cultural Foundation (2007), and Garage Center for Contemporary Culture (2008) have launched their own non-profit spaces; other projects include the bustling Winzavod Contemporary Art Center, home to several of Russia’s top galleries and a cornerstone of the city’s cultural life, and the Kandinsky Prize, new in its fourth year. COSMOSCOW is perfectly situated to help Russia’s art scene further integrate itself into the West’s, while allowing international galleries access to a new swathe of clients.
COSMOSCOW will open to collectors on December 17th, 2010 at 15:00, with a vernissage to follow at 19:00 that evening. Full details of events and a list of participants will be published shortly. A catalogue will be released in print and online to accompany the Show.
Should you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us either by email at info [at] cosmoscow.com or by telephone on + 7 495 727 17 85.
