The Multimedia Art Museum will present the final part of the exhibitions. From April 18 to May 13, 2012, Wim Wenders’ photographs and a exhibition devoted to the Swedish film director Ingmar Bergman will be on display. Then from April 20th to May 27, Ai Weiwei’s New York series and Arkadiy Shaikhet’s photographs will be presented in partnership with the Moscow House of Photography. From May 31 to June 24, Lev Granovsky’s Steel and Lava will be presented to the public in association with the MPM and Olga Sviblova. And finally, from June 15th to July 1st, 2012, the Museum will exhibit the photographs of Mario Sorrenti from the 2012 Pirelli Calendar.
• 18.04—13.05 : “Ingmar Bergman: The Man Who Asked Hard Questions” presented by the Swedish Institute, Stockholm
• 18.04—13.05 : Bengt Wanselius “Ingmar Bergman: The Image Maker”
• 20.04—13.05 : Wim Wenders “Pictures from the Surface of the Earth” presented by Blain Southern Gallery, London
• 20.04—27.05 : Ai Weiwei “New York. 1983-1993” presented by Three Shadow Art Gallery, Beijing, with the participation of Martin-Gropius-Bau, Berlin
The exhibition of Ai Weiwei ‘New York. 1983–1993’ presents his shots from a collection of over 10,000 photographs that capture the history, culture, and atmosphere of 1980s New York from his unique perspective on art and society.
There are photographs of East Village poetry readings, riots in Tompkins Square Park, drag queens from Wigstock, and visits by well-known artists and writers from China. The photographs not only document the changes of an era, but also reveal the world as seen through Ai Weiwei’s eyes and trace the beginnings of his conceptual art practice.
An important Chinese contemporary artist, Ai Weiwei is well known for his sculptures, installations, and architecture. Yet photography also plays an important role in his art practice. He has a distinct understanding of photography and has created some of his most iconic artworks with photographs.
The New York photographs are records of his life and work, which carry the stamp of that time. They are not a perfect chronicle of Ai Weiwei’s life, but rather scenes taken from his surroundings that reveal his thoughts and attitudes at the moment. The photographs are a valuable piece of visual history for both him personally and contemporary art.
• 20.04—27.05 : Arkadiy Shaikhet. “Continuation 1928 – 1931” presented by the Museum “Moscow House of Photography” (curator: Maria Jotikova-Shaikhet)
• 31.05—24.06 : Lev Granovsky “Steel and Lava” presented by the Museum “Moscow House of Photography” (curator: Olga Sviblova)
The Tolbachik volcano in Kamchatka erupted thirty years ago. Photographs of this eruption by Vadim Gippenreiter have circulated the world. It was only two years later that I arrived at Tolbachik in my capacity as geologist. And for another twenty-five years I envied those who witnessed the birth of this volcano.
Then I was standing with my camera near the liquid lava sources flowing from Kilauea volcano. I am overwhelmed by the force, the beauty and grandeur of this process. The bright molten rock that transfixes the onlooker, the ominous rumble of moving lava, the stench of ash and sulphur. So ecstatic I almost lost my senses, it was difficult to think how I could capture the scene.
A year later I was back in Kilauea. As the lava surface solidifies it is covered by a crust of glass. This glass mirrors the sky and we see reflected light from the lava stream.
Then Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland. Splashes of lava fly from the bowels of the earth, cool in mid-air and fall to the ground as solidified lumps. Some are the size of a small house. Lava flows across the glacier in clouds of steam and the lava cascade tumbles down the ravine with a roar.
This is the size and power of volcanism, the magnificent breath of the Earth.
After shooting the eruptions I considered my future plans and had the idea of comparing metallurgical and volcanic processes. With this goal in mind I set off for the Cherepovets metallurgical works. The spectacle of steelmaking was striking. I have no words to describe what I saw. Maybe photographs can convey the emotions evoked when you set eyes on a manmade miracle.
• 14.06—01.07 : Pirelli Calendar 2012 by Mario Sorrenti presented by Pirelli
Multimedia Art Museum, Moscow
Address: Ostozhenka street, 16 – Moscow
Opening hours: 12am – 9pm (Monday day off)
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