Abracadabra
June 8–July 31, 2018
This summer Moscow gives an opportunity to young artists from all over the world at the 6th Moscow International Biennale for Young Art
The 6th Moscow International Biennale for Young Art takes place in the Russian capital from June 8 to July 31, 2018. More than 50 young artists from all over the world, who won in an open competition, present their works in the main project. The age of participants and curators is up to 35 years old. The commissioner of the Biennale is Ekaterina Kibovskaya, the curator of the main project is Lucrezia Calabrò Visconti.
The only biennale in the world aimed exclusively at young artists is held at several venues in the city: district “Rassvet” at Krasnaya Presnya, the Moscow Museum of Modern Art (MMOMA), the National Center for Contemporary Art (part of ROSIZO), the AZ Museum and a special site at TSUM department store. The program has five blocks: the main project, strategic projects, special projects, parallel and educational programs. As many as 55 events is held in just one month and a half.
Main project
The Biennale’s main project is entitled Abracadabra. Curator Lucrezia Calabrò Visconti chose 58 works out of 1,500 applications. A common theme of the project refers to the ancient magic spell and the hit of Soviet discos—“Abracadabra” by the Steve Miller Band.
“The Moscow International Biennale for Young Art is based on an open competition, which gave me the unique chance to research into the practice of so many young artists from all over the world,” says curator Lucrezia Calabrò Visconti. “Abracadabra is dedicated to artistic practices that dwell in the high-performance landscapes produced by the economies of presence. The attempt to reclaim sovereignty over our circadian rhythm might need to pass through sub-political endeavors, interstitial spaces and gestures, minor compositions taking place in opaque scenarios. Abracadabra draws a line through contemporary forms of exposure and invisibility, enchantment and disenchantment, suggestion and secrecy in contemporary society. Notions of strike, hypochondria, ineffability, metabolism, attention and generosity gain operational meaning in the attempt to transform contemporary protocols of consumption in situated practices of autonomy.”
Strategic projects
Strategic exhibitions continue and expand the main project. The first one is This site is under Revolution by curator Barbara Cueto at the Moscow Museum of Modern Art (MMOMA) and the second one is Thank you, please, I’m sorry by curator Zhenya Chaika at the National Center for Contemporary Arts (part of ROSIZO). Curators were chosen by the expert council of the Biennale via an open competition.
Barbara Cueto’s (Spain/Germany) projects pay special attention to social, political and environmental consequences of using technology, they explore social trends in post-human era, study the role of art in the world of technology. Project This site is under Revolution is hosted at MMOMA on Gogolevsky Boulevard and continued in the digital space at CosmosCarl.co.uk.
Zhenya Chaika (Russia) continues the theme of a magical spell. She has a degree in philosophy, curated Art Residences program at the Ural Industrial Biennale in 2012 and was nominated for the “Innovation” award for it, the main Russian contemporary art award.
Main project
Abracadabra
Curator: Lucrezia Calabrò Visconti
June 8–July 31
District “Rassvet” at Krasnaya Presnya
Russia, Moscow, Stolyarny per., 3, k. 1
Strategic project
This site is under Revolution
Curator: Barbara Cueto
June 8–July 22
Moscow Museum of Modern Art
Russia, Moscow, Gogolevsky blvd, 10, building 2
Strategic project
Please, thank you, I’m sorry
Curator: Zhenya Chaika
June 8–July 22
National centre for contemporary arts
Russia, Moscow, Zoologicheskaya st., 13, building 2
