UK-Russia exhibition to kick off in Moscow

A collaborative exhibition between artists from two institutions, one based in Russia and the other in the UK, is set to open this Wednesday in Moscow, with artists from across the world exhibiting their work. Entitled Space of No Exception, the exhibition bases itself on “the desire to create an alternative, universal space — the space of no exception — where every artist and every aspect of existence has its own voice and the right to speak”, according to curator Anna Zhurba. The title is an indirect reference to Italian philosopher Giorgio Agamben’s concept of “the state of exception”, which describes the intensification of power structures used by governments in supposed times of crisis.

Zhurba told The Calvert Journal: “The title…is connected to the general feeling and the atmosphere surrounding us — the climate of the attempts of Machiavellian unification, of the suppression of independent thinking, and the increased pressure experienced when trying to do something differently.”

Part of the UK-Russia Year of Culture and a joint project between artists from the Institute of Contemporary Art Moscow and London’s Goldsmith College, Space of No Exception has turned the tide for collaborative cultural projects between Russia and the UK, many of which have been cancelled due to the worsening diplomatic ties between the two countries since the start of the Ukraine crisis earlier this year.

Commenting on the importance of cultural exchange, Carl Gent, an artist participating in the exhibition, told The Calvert Journal: “The workings of diplomacy often seem veiled, opaque and either cynically or financially motivated. To participate in this cross-cultural exchange, meeting so many strong and fascinating voices from such a range of situations, has been powerfully encouraging and, most importantly, unbelievably fun.”

Since the beginning of the Ukraine crisis earlier this year, cultural events scheduled to take place as part of the UK-Russia Year of Culture, an official diplomatic venture between the countries, have suffered from boycotts and the withdrawal of funding. In July, UK ministers withdrew their support for the UK-Russia Year of Culture, announcing plans to boycott the programme’s events because of Russia’s annexation of Crimea in March this year.