A unique exhibition of artists - abstract artists of the mid-twentieth century has opened in Moscow

October 18, 2016. Moscow. Today at the Moscow Museum of Modern Art (MMOMA) opened exhibition "Studio" New Reality "(1958-1991). Transformation of Consciousness , telling about a unique phenomenon in the domestic culture of the second half of the 20th century, the work of the New Reality studio, founded by the famous artist, teacher and thinker Eliy Belyutin, whose work was fiercely criticized by CPSU Secretary General Nikita Khrushchev at the memorial exhibition of the Soviet avant-garde in the Manege in 1962. The organizers of the exhibition are the Russian Abstract Art Fund (RAI Fund) and the Moscow Museum of Modern Art (MOMMA).

The opening ceremony was attended by the Chairperson of the RAI Fund Olga Uskova, Executive Director of MOMMA Vasily Tsereteli, President of the Russian Academy of Arts Zurab Tsereteli, Director of the Multimedia Art Museum Olga Sviblova, Chief of Staff of the State Duma of the VI convocation Jakhan Pollyeva and others.

The exposition presents more than 100 paintings of the main representatives of the "New Reality". Among them, E. Belyutin, V. Zubarev, L. Gribkov, T. Ter-Ghevondyan, V. Preobrazhenskaya and others.

For the first time in recent decades, a whole layer of works of Russian abstract art will become available to the public - paintings, theoretical and methodological developments, documents and other materials related to the work of the studio, which, for many historical reasons, have long been undeservedly stored in archives and storage rooms.

In the photo: Olga Uskova, Olga Sviblova, Jakhan Pollyeva

According to the Chairman of the Board of the RAI Fund Olga Uskova: “Today, both in our country and in the world, the significance of Russian abstract art is being reassessed. It is worth saying that this direction was reflected in the presentation of Russia at the Olympics in Sochi, as one of the key elements of the country’s culture. Having carried out a thorough analysis, having studied and systematized the archival materials of the participants of the New Reality studio, their methodological work, it is safe to say that the work of Belyutins can rightfully claim the status of the second wave of the avant-garde. ”

The exhibition is the first attempt in its design and scope to present in its interaction both the practical and theoretical aspects of the studio’s work, the developed theory of universal contact and the theory of temporal art Vladislav Zubarev (which is a further development of the theory of universal contact). According to Anna Karganova: “One of the goals of the exposition is to demonstrate the relevance of the theoretical provisions of the New Reality, their modernity and applicability today.” The unique architecture of the exposition, the widespread use of multimedia and a series of special master classes prepared by the Museum staff on the basis of Belyutin’s pedagogical technique will allow the viewer to become not only an eyewitness, but also a full-fledged participant in the most significant events in the life of the Studio. “This format will allow visitors to the exhibition to receive, in some way, a confirmation of the highest effectiveness of Elij Belyutin’s theoretical methods,” comments Anna Karganova, “They will be able, to some extent, to experience and repeat the experience and feelings of discoveries made by the participants of the Studio.”

The exhibition will be held from October 18, 2016 to January 15, 2017 at MMOMA.

The event is supported by the Government of Moscow.

Information about the studio "New Reality"

Studio "New Reality" was created by the famous artist, teacher and thinker Eli Belyutin in the 1950s. She became a kind, a product of her era. At a time when society was inspired by the great victory over fascism, when the belief that the experimental system was power and a happy future was growing, when the camps were opened, the fresh thaw wind blew for the first time, the country opened the way to space, comprehended the depths of the atom around Elia Belutina formed a circle of artists who are ready to seek new forms in art and striving for freedom of expression.

V. Zubarev. Humanity. 1989-1991

Instead of the outdated concept of the Academy of Arts, Belutin proposed a new paradigm - to educate an artist with a developed ability to emotionally and uninhibitedly perceive the world around him and, as a result, find and develop visual means to express his experience. To propose an artistic language adequate to modernity, reflecting the rapidly changing spiritual life of a person, to develop a conscious approach to the problems of contemporary art.

Lucian Gribkov. They quarreled. 1962

In the process of teaching, Belyutin developed, and then formulated theoretical and methodological postulates, which eventually took shape in his main work, “Theories of General Contact”. A lesson in the studio was built according to a certain pattern. The beginning of work was always preceded by a task, the wording of which was often very unexpected. For example, he asked to depict all the colors of the spectrum in one color. Or the pine forest, behind which Auschwitz is located, and the character, shape of tree trunks and color convey the tragedy. According to the curator of the exhibition, Anna Karganova: “Belyutin proposed a kind of alphabet or metalanguage, as a way of depicting emotions. For example, to imagine sadness not in the banal image of a crying woman, but in a certain set of characters that will make the viewer understand that this is sadness. ”

Participants in the New Reality studio noted that Eliy Belyutin’s methodological and theoretical approach to organizing classes was so fascinating that they were ready to work day and night, completely forgetting about any material side of creativity. According to Olga Uskova, “It was the possibility of self-realization that was the main incentive for the studio participants. They did not paint for the sake of sale or the desire to become famous. Creativity was the basis of their life. Therefore, these works have incomparable energy. ”

According to Alevtina Chernikova, member of the Supervisory Board of the RAI Foundation, Rector of NITU MISiS, “The methods for creating creative consciousness created within the framework of the New Reality studio are actively used in the educational process and give amazing results.

About the Fund:

The Russian Abstract Art Foundation is a non-profit organization created to promote cultural, educational and public initiatives. The foundation aims to form the correct scientific and historical understanding of Russian abstract art in a global context.

Curators:

Anna Karganova - art critic, director of the Russian Abstract Art Fund.

Valeria Volkova - art critic, curator, senior researcher at the Moscow Museum of Modern Art.