Future Lab. Kinetic art in Russia
In collaboration with the State Tretyakov Gallery and Manege Central Exhibition Hall presents a major exhibition entitled Future Lab. Kinetic Art in Russia. It is dedicated to kineticism, one of the most significant movements in modern art.
The theme of transformation lies at the heart of kinetic art, both as an artistic form, and in the very process of perception. Mobility, mutability and volatility are the hallmarks of dynamic compositions, which transform through mechanics or visual effects. Kineticism was a post-war phenomenon which emerged simultaneously in several regions across the world. Much of its focus was on the rehabilitation of technological progress and the rise of the information society.
The artists not only sought out new ways by which to embody their concepts, but also expanded their reach to fields such as design, architecture, urban planning, and shaping the surrounding environment.
Consequently, kineticism is more than just a page in the history of art — it was a laboratory for artists to create alternate versions of reality, as well as of the future which we inhabit today. A great deal of what was once viewed as an artistic experiment is now part and parcel of our everyday lives.
The project at Manege will feature works by famous kinetic artists who set the scene for kinetic art in the 60s and 70s. It will also feature these artists’ predecessors, major artists of the early 20th century Russian avant-garde, as well as modern artists. The exhibition is comprised of four sections: Vision Lab, Art Metrics Lab, Environment Lab and Synesthesia Lab.
The exhibition will include a variety of forms and genres that constitute kinetic art: mobiles, self-stressed structures, transforming sculptures, optical paintings, graphics, collage, photography, video projects, sound and light installations, and interactive objects — about 400 exhibits in total.
