International exhibition project "18 +/- voluntary self-control"

The Moscow Museum continues the tradition of displaying contemporary young art. The international project “18 +/− voluntary self-control” about the first generation of adults of the new millennium will be held in the museum from August 23 to September 23. The exhibition is attended by artists from Russia, Germany and Switzerland: EliKuka, Franz Wanner, Maria Safronova, Anna Tolkacheva, David Tsender, Alina Glazun. An audio guide recorded by visitors aged 18 +/- will also be part of the project.

The idea was developed by curator Anna Fatyanova as part of a research residence in Munich. The project was conceived as an indicator of the important sociocultural milestone of 2018: the first generation of the post-millennium is on the verge of adulthood and numerous choices - a place of study, profession, future life path.

These are those who were born in the 2000s and literally grew up on the Internet, in conditions of unlimited choice and freedom. But computer algorithms that form the information field penetrate the world wide web, which puts the infinity of possibilities and the very concept of “free choice” into question.

The purpose of the project is to give the floor to the Z generation, post-millennials, those who are now from 16 to 22 years old, and in dialogue with artists to feel the world in which their identity was formed. The exhibition will focus on the nature of choice and the decision-making process from philosophical, sociological, technological, theological and other perspectives.

The art duo EliKuka presents an interactive installation-maze of doors of different formats, appearance, purpose. Oleg Eliseev and Evgeny Kukoverov give the viewer unlimited freedom of choice and actively include him in the creative process.

Franz Wanner, a new multimedia project by an artist from Munich, is based on a specially developed program that scans user preferences and content advertising mechanisms on social networks. Chains of links into which each Internet user involuntarily or voluntarily joins form an information field and narrow the range of choice. Wanner proposes to counter such machine programming.

On colorful canvases by Maria Safronova from the “General View Game” series, the dynamics of an individual’s social life is depicted — the processes of growing up and adapting to environmental laws. This is a school, office, sports ground, where social patterns of behavior are learned and the skills of making “right” decisions are brought up.

In the new interactive video installation, the media poet Anna Tolkacheva confronts the viewer with problems requiring urgent solutions. This is a computer game, the purpose of which is to answer countless obsessive questions in a strictly limited time, if you do not have time, the system will decide for you.

Media artist from Basel, David Tsender, who makes fun of an overabundance of information in the modern world, creates video collages from material found on the Internet. In his work “Capitalistic tie performance”, Tsender addresses the topic of growing up, and a tie acts as a symbol of maturity.

Alina Glazun’s photogenic installation entitled “Life Scene” shows the archetype of a semicircular stage with a red curtain, reminiscent of a prom, wedding, concert, an important event in life. There is a disco ball under the ceiling, a podium on the mirror floor, and in general - the joy and hopes of youth, love and chewing gum.

The Moscow Museum invites young people from 16 to 22 years old to a private preview of the exhibition on August 20 at 19:00. Participants will take part in recording an audio guide for the exhibition. You must register here . There are age restrictions.

Exhibition opening: August 22 at 19.00. Free admission.

The event program of the exhibition consists of discussions with artists, workshops and performances. The purpose of the program is to familiarize viewers with the works presented at the exhibition and give an opportunity to speak to a generation of spectators aged 16 to 22. Spectators of other age categories can also participate in events.

On August 29, at 19.00, a meeting will take place with the exhibitor artist Franz Wanner, who will come to Russia for the first time. He will talk about his multimedia installation “Voluntary control from the outside”. On September 5, at 7 p.m. an interactive tour of the labyrinth of new opportunities of the art duo EliKuk will take place. In September, the exhibition will also host an interactive performance of Earworm with Alexei Kokhanov and Ksenia Babushkina, where it will be possible to perform intrusive, haunting melodies, and thereby get rid of them.

Admission to pre-registration events. The full program and details are on the Moscow Museum website.