Europe
Arseny Zhilyaev
Museum of Russian History on Bolotnaya Square
2014
Arseniy Zhilyaev, Museum of Russian History on Bolotnaya Square, 2014.
The Bolotnaya Battle Park Complex is the future home for the Museum of Russian History (M. I.R.). Located on the grounds of Bolotnaya square in Moscow, this park sits on top of what once was a swamp. Above the main building stand two bio-engineered ‘living sculptures’, which strike various poses to commemorate the brave acts of those defending the federation from foreign intervention during protests of May 6th, 2012. In the new environmentally conscious direction of city planning, the square has been converted back to its original swamp state, with the complex centrally located to house the Museum.
Arseny Zhilyaev is arguably one of the most influential contemporary Russian artists of his generation. For Zhilyaev, his medium of choice is the exhibition itself. His practice is deeply rooted in the study of presentation and display of artworks, histories and social processes. His multi-faceted installations combine historical fact with fiction in imagining new possibilities and futures. Inspired by Soviet and Marxist Museology, Zhilyaev often turns to Russian Cosmism and its philosophies of the universal museum. To trace Zhilyaev's work, one should span from the avant-garde of the 1920's to the 'shock therapy' of the 1990's in Russia. As a member of the young generation of Russian artists, Zhilyaev looks at the changes of his country through the 20th century to compose his works. With a specific attention of art's relations to politics, education and pedagogy, Arseniy Zhilyaev reflects on the different roles of the museum and exhibition making. Despite the current use of art as entertainment, Zhilyaev wants to rethink the museum as an educational institution connecting art and history.