A review of the "Great Emptiness" exhibition at the Ruarts Foundation

Contents:

• Loss, Disappearance, Invisibility, Aggression
• Melancholy and Lost in Time
• Gaining Visibility, Creating from and in the Void

An exhibition titled "The Great Void" has opened at the Ruarts Foundation in Moscow. This title refers to Paolo Sorrentino's film "The Great Beauty" and the concept of the Great Cosmic Void in the constellation Bootes. The relevance of the theme of emptiness in modern society is undeniable: many people feel lost, and a vacuum has formed where feelings and emotions once resided. The exhibition "The Great Emptiness" is a women's project, featuring exclusively female artists, which highlights the role of women in art and their unique perspective on issues of existence and emotional state in the modern world.

We visited the exhibition to explore the features of "women's" art and find out how it differs from men's.

The Ruarts Foundation acquired a five-story building on Trubnikovsky Lane in April 2021. The renowned gallery on Zachatievsky Lane continues to be an active participant in the art market, where art sales and purchases take place. Unlike a gallery, the Ruarts Foundation, which holds a collection of over two thousand works by contemporary artists, functions as a cultural institution, focusing on the development of art and the support of large-scale cultural projects.

The idea to organize an exhibition featuring only female artists arose two years ago. The theme of the project, dedicated to emptiness, was later chosen. Guest curator Anna Zhurba explains that women have historically been associated with the concept of emptiness. In a social context, they have not had the opportunity to freely choose their profession, and female artists remain virtually invisible in art history. In the Freudian understanding, emptiness is associated with the female experience: where a man has a penis, a woman has only emptiness, which in psychoanalytic theory becomes an important part of her life's journey. This project aims to understand and rethink the role of women in art, and to explore how emptiness can be a source of creativity and self-expression.

In "The Great Beauty" the fictional An artist fills the space between the columns of an Italian estate with photographs of his life. Similarly, the artists at the Ruarts Gallery demonstrate how they fill the emptiness of their reality. Their works reflect unique experiences and emotions, allowing the viewer to peer into their inner world and understand what exactly constitutes their reality. Each painting becomes more than just an image, but a vivid testimony to personal stories and life events captured in art.

Loss, Disappearance, Invisibility, Aggression

The exhibition is logically divided into three parts, united by the theme of disappearance and invisibility. The viewing should begin on the fourth floor, which is dedicated to the loss of the personal history of the small individual—one component of a larger society. This section focuses on how individual destinies are lost in the flow of time and mass change, emphasizing the importance of preserving personal stories in the context of social development.

The section "Loss, Disappearance, Invisibility, Aggression" is presented in the minimalist painting "Walls" by Alexandra Paperno. The artist illustrates how the disappearance of people leads to the loss of things and personal space: once there was a carpet here, and a piano there, filling the atmosphere with music. The disappearance of objects creates a void not only in the interior, but also in the inner self, which is connected to a specific place and environment. This art project emphasizes the importance of attachment to space and those around us, forcing the viewer to reflect on the impact of loss on personal perception of the world.

Elena Artemenko's project "Things That Have Weight" reflects the idea of ​​loss and the significance of personal belongings. A marble T-shirt discarded on the floor no longer belongs to its owner, and its place is now empty. To protect the exhibit from damage, it was moved to a chair. A familiar wardrobe item carries weight not only because of its material. Small pieces of everyday life, whether personal or shared, represent important aspects of our lives. Despite their ordinariness, we often fail to recognize their significance. The project highlights how important things can be unnoticeable, yet have a profound impact on our perception and memory.

"Loss of Image" by Mayana Nasybullova explores themes of disappearance and loss. In her work, the artist purchases objects at flea markets and assembles the found pieces, imbuing them with new meanings through images and characters. One framed portrait is a faded photograph of an unknown man, raising questions about his identity and history. Nearby, in a crumbling frame, glaze has spread across the tile, creating an effect that distorts the photographic silhouette. This work emphasizes the connection between memory and material objects, inviting the viewer to consider how the disappearance of physical images affects the perception of identity and history.

Before you is an installation that, at first glance, may appear to be a chaotic jumble of objects: various objects are tangled in wires, and light bulbs are placed in haphazardly arranged plastic basins. This creates a sense of discomfort when standing near the work. However, after reading the caption, "'He' from the 'Aggression' series," the perception changes. You realize that several pistols pointed at the viewer carry a profound meaning. A red flashing light symbolizes a bloodshot "eye," and a cold blue light at the top of the composition represents the "mind" of the aggressor. Standing before Natalia Turnova's installation, you feel numbness and emptiness—feelings evoked by violence. This work makes you think about the influence of aggression on the human psyche and society as a whole.

Project "Untitled" Irina Nakhova's work, displayed in the adjacent room, is a winner of the Kandinsky Prize. In her work, the artist touches on important historical themes, drawing parallels with the era of the Great Terror, when the faces of "enemies of the people" were subjected to extermination. In the photograph "Figure Skaters," Nakhova erases the faces of the girls posing with their coach with pastels. This project not only explores the theme of loss and disappearance but also reflects the voids that fill the space of those erased from public memory. The artist created the painting, which is over three meters in size, based on materials from her own archive, which adds a personal and intimate context to the work.

The picture is closely related to the group portrait "Management Staff", which It is part of a triptych. Red parachute silk is pulled through the holes that replace the faces of the participants in the photograph, evoking associations with large-scale terrorist repressions. This could symbolize both the aftermath of the executioner's shot and the bags over the heads of the condemned. The viewer is given the opportunity to interpret these images for themselves. At the same time, on the right, a three-channel video shows the disappearance of people condemned to oblivion, along with their belongings and memories. This contrast emphasizes the theme of loss and oblivion, relevant in the context of historical memory. The descent to the second floor down the stairs is accompanied by a unique sound—this is not just background music, but one of the exhibits. Irina Petrakova and Dmitry Skopintsev's audio installation, titled "Know, Such Is My Fate," explores the absence of a female voice in both art and society. The installation emphasizes the importance of the female voice and its influence on the cultural context.

For a long time, female emotions and experiences were conveyed through male voices in musical works. Men created lyrics reflecting female feelings and performed these parts, thereby filling the void left by the absence of a woman's voice. The audio installation features arias from Tchaikovsky's operas, as well as elements of folklore, emphasizing the significance of the female voice in musical art.

Melancholy and Lost in Time

On the third floor, Katya Isaeva's "Morning Choir" project stands out. It was inspired by a corner of Tao Dan Park in Saigon. Here, local residents bring birds in cages so that they can interact with each other. The poignancy of the work lies in the fact that the nineteen exhibited cages do not contain the birds themselves. The only way to see the black-faced Hawaiian flowerpecker or the noble moho is on a poster hung on a wall. All that remains of these extinct species are their pictures, audio recordings of their songs, and empty cages. The project raises important questions about species extinction and the loss of natural diversity, provoking the viewer to reflect on the connection between humans and nature.

Time has no clear coordinates, but its Lostness can be expressed through space. In her "Offices" series, artist Maria Safronova depicts abandoned school buildings on large canvases, symbolizing the loss of the past. Inspired by stalker stories, Taisiya Korotkova creates futuristic objects on old glued tablecloths that blend seamlessly into the natural landscape. Anastasia Tsayder's lightbox from her "Arcadia" series demonstrates how nature gradually conquers human structures. This depiction of being lost in time is anthropocentric in nature, as time, as a concept, is defined by humans, not created by them.

In her new series "What Is and What Isn't," Alisa Gorshenina explores abandoned Russian villages, revealing their unique atmosphere and forgotten stories. Carved window frames, once decorative, now frame empty window openings, revealing emptiness beyond. In her photographs, Alisa is depicted in a dark coat with red ribbons in her long braids, as if immersed in a world of myths and fairy tales. The houses in her works come to life, as if they were looking at her and reaching out. However, the artist herself seems a little superfluous in these pictures - emptiness and abandonment become the main characters of these places.

Going down the stairs to the second floor and plunging into thoughts about what you have seen, you hear A male voice singing sadly.

Life promised me only joy, giving me hope and bright moments. Each new day opens up opportunities for happiness and inspiration. It's important to appreciate these moments, because they make our lives rich and vibrant. Joy fills the heart, and we begin to perceive the world around us in a new way. Every experience, every smile is a step toward a happier life. Discover the joy in simple things and let it become part of your everyday experience.

A cloud appeared on the horizon, and with it came thunder. This natural phenomenon always evokes interest and respect. Thunder, the result of an electrical discharge in the atmosphere, accompanies rains and storms, creating a unique atmosphere. Nature demonstrates its power, and we can observe how the sky changes, foreshadowing change. Natural phenomena such as clouds and thunder play an important role in the ecosystem, helping to moisten the soil and support life on Earth.

Everything I loved in this world,

Happiness, hopes are dashed.

I feel very tired and exhausted.

When night or day comes, thoughts of him do not leave. Thoughts of him penetrate every minute, filling the mind. This image becomes an integral part of everyday life, making the heart beat faster. Sometimes, even in the silence of the night or the bustle of the day, his presence is felt especially keenly. These feelings and memories fill the soul with warmth, creating an atmosphere where every moment seems significant. It's important to remember that such emotions can inspire and empower, helping to overcome any difficulties. Night and day merge into a single stream, where only it remains the center of attention.

I tormented myself with thoughts...

Finding visibility, creating from and in emptiness

The exhibition is designed to transform the gloomy feeling of emptiness inherent in sparse spaces into the realization that emptiness can be filled with meaning and content. The second floor plays a key role in alleviating the feeling of emptiness that arises when visiting the upper halls. This level creates an atmosphere conducive to deep perception and interaction with the exhibition objects, allowing the viewer to understand that emptiness is not only an absence of something, but also an opportunity for creation and filling with new ideas.

The right side of the exhibition presents two early works: "Suspense" by Aidan Salakhova and "Dreams of Alexander the Great" by Olga Tobreluts, both created in 1998. "Suspense" begins a profound exploration of gender and the expression of female identity in Aidan Salakhova's work. These works reflect important aspects of women's experience and art, making them significant in the context of contemporary artistic discourse.

A large black canvas depicts a woman reminiscent of an ancient statue. Initially, the painting appears static, but soon her second, true self separates from the heroine, and the canvas begins to come to life thanks to a video projection. The plot lasts several minutes, and when it reaches the middle, a reversal occurs: the actions begin to unfold in reverse. Events do not happen, and the haughty beauty again freezes in the blackness of the void. This work explores themes of identity and illusion, creating profound visual metaphors through a combination of classical art and modern technology.

Collages "Dream of Alexander the Great" by Olga Tobreluts' works are based on the late 18th-century sculpture "The Vigil of Alexander the Great," which occupies a central place in the composition. In these works, Alexander, previously depicted in a waking state, now falls asleep and seems to disappear into space. His marble bed becomes empty, symbolizing the loss of the image of the victorious warrior in the context of history. The artist emphasizes how Alexander's figure dissolves into historical memory, evoking reflections on time and its impact on great figures.

Photographs of ancient statues, shot on film and printed on large-format paper, lend the work a pomp and grandeur. Meanwhile, the digital collage, created in 1998, seems somewhat naive compared to modern technology. The past 25 years have not erased the original meaning of the work, but have brought a new sound, updating it in a modern context.

A separate hall presents art focused on the physical Expression, not internal content. The art group "Factory of Found Clothes," consisting of Natalia Pershina-Yakimanskaya and Olga Egorova, in their social project "Pensioners, Don't Give Up," raises the important issue of the invisibility of one of the most vulnerable segments of society. Old-fashioned jackets and coats, extended toward the viewer, reveal an arm covered in translucent nylon. Although created in 2012, the work remains relevant and feels like an object from the early 2000s, with a clear and understandable metaphor. This project draws attention to social justice and the need to support older people, making it an important element of contemporary art.

Three watercolors taller than a human from the series "How to Become Ekaterina Muromtseva's "Invisible" works illustrate the "invisible" class of cultural workers, often overshadowed by their work. The issue of "invisible labor" is relevant not only to cultural institutions, and the artist focuses on the sphere closest to her heart. Conversing with her subjects about their profession, she uses delicate shades, creating images that are difficult to discern through the play of light and color. These people become visible and noticeable through her work. In this way, Muromtseva raises important questions about the recognition and value of cultural workers, making their contribution to art more visible. The viewing of these "social" works is accompanied by piercing female screams coming from behind a dark curtain, where Liza Bobkova's video "I'm Here" is playing. This work is considered one of the most emotionally charged in the exhibition. Its plot explores the theme of emptiness, but the heroine is not alone. In the endless snowy expanses of the quarry, she addresses an invisible interlocutor, shouting, "Can you hear me? I'm here! Here!!! Is this important to you?!" There's no answer, nor is there a tangible recipient of her message. The heroine is at a loss, embarrassed, silent, and then cries out again: "And then I'm very scared! Very scared! Scary-e-e-e!!!" This attempt to convey her feelings turns into profound loneliness. Dualism—a monologue that could become a dialogue—evokes strong empathy in viewers. The work touches on important aspects of human nature, such as the search for connection and understanding, making it relevant and significant in the context of contemporary art.

Tanya Akhmetgalieva's installation entitled "Clotho" forms a closed cycle, closing the "Great Emptiness" with the same effort that opens it. The work is located on the first and second floors, next to the foyer, making it accessible to the public. The artist uses an embroidery technique that always remains unfinished, symbolizing continuity and development. For "Clotho," Tanya spent several weeks at the Yekaterinburg worsted mill, capturing the faces of the factory workers. Just as the goddess Clotho in Greek mythology weaves the thread of fate, so the artist creates portraits of women whose work is often undervalued, yet at the same time defines their lives. This installation not only highlights the importance of women's work, but also provokes deep reflection on the role of women in modern society.

The exhibition, created in accordance with the curatorial concept, is aimed at An awareness of emptiness as a space that can be filled and serve as a springboard for new beginnings. However, a sense of this potential is not achieved. The artists' works raise the question: what exactly can you do to avoid emptiness in society, history, and within yourself?

The global concept of a "women's exhibition" does not create the impression of a "women's message." One way to demonstrate equality in art is to organize an exhibition in which the artist's gender is not a dominant factor: it is present in the list of participants, but does not influence the content of the works. This feature distinguishes "The Great Void" from many other "women's" projects in which the gender of the participants is overemphasized—often through resentment or Freudian sexual overtones. High-quality curatorial work demonstrates how artists engage with issues that transcend gender roles and create their works within a unified context. The exhibition thus highlights the importance of work that transcends gender stereotypes and promotes a deeper understanding of contemporary art.

The exhibition will be on display at the Ruarts Foundation in Moscow until June 4. Venue: Trubnikovsky Pereulok, Building 6. Don't miss the opportunity to attend this cultural event and see unique works of art.

If you're looking for interesting places to visit, we have some recommendations. Start with local museums, where you can learn about the culture and history of the region. Check out parks and nature reserves, which offer great opportunities for walking and outdoor activities. You should also visit local cafes and restaurants to sample regional cuisine. Don't miss the opportunity to check out the exhibitions and cultural events that frequently take place in your city. Each of these places will offer you a unique experience and allow you to better understand the world around you.

Exhibitions in Moscow and St. Petersburg: 10 Events to Welcome Spring

With the arrival of spring, the capitals of Russia come alive with cultural events. This season, Moscow and St. Petersburg will host many exhibitions that will delight art and culture lovers. We have compiled a list of the 10 most interesting exhibitions worth visiting in these cities.

Moscow is expecting exhibitions representing both classical and contemporary art. You will be able to see works by famous artists and new projects by young masters. St. Petersburg also has unique exhibitions planned that will introduce you to a variety of artistic movements and cultural trends.

By visiting these exhibitions, you will not only enjoy art but also get the opportunity to learn more about the cultural life of Russia. Include these events in your spring itinerary to fill your days with inspiration and new experiences.

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