Five surprises

Joining the celebration, the “Art” section, which has been used by wide autonomy from the time of OpenSpace.ru traditions, proposes to recall the early years of the site of the site. Then Colta.ru was similar to a blog, although from the point of view of the content and strength of the impact, some materials of that time will give the head start today. Unfortunately, most of these texts were never transferred to a new version of the site. We decided to remind them (with one single, but important exception).

11 February 2013

Cyril Ass, the architect and publicist, wrote to us at OpenSpace.ru and, of course, did not refuse when he was offered to cooperate with the colta. We always appreciated him for the ability to clearly formulate thought and uncompromising. He never succumbed to mass psychoses and fashionable poetry, which spread at the speed of a forest fire on social networks. In principle, here it would be possible to give a link to any text of Assa, but we bring to your attention our beloved - “Against complaints” :

Imperial St. Petersburg is no longer and will not be in the foreseeable prospect, as there will be no new buildings that would “organically fit into” the historical environment, fortunately, preserved in many areas in an almost inviolable form since 1917. Unfortunately, modern ideas about this organic connection are completely unfamiliar to our public. The current references to the historical environment are not read in any way, even if they are. The invitation to design the new scene of the theater of any of the few cruel classicists would be a gesture that turned one of the few truly creatively developing theaters in the country into souvenir gingerbread, into a monument to itself. Ultimately - in the surrender of creativity before superstitious dogmatism.

12 February 2013

The duet of the critics of Alexandra Novozhenova and Gleb Napenko made a lot of noise in the artistic environment. As soon as they were not scolded - but how they were praised! In general, neither readers nor the editorial office were indifferent to their articles. They could be serious, but they could hooligan. And they always did it with a spark. Their stormy activity also includes the OCCUPY COLTA project with a huge material about the “Blucle meaning” , and the legendary text about X ** Ki , and the magazine “Disagreements” . But we would especially like to highlight their first joint article on colta.ru - “working oil” :

In the 1990s, realism supplanted from the stage went to meet the capital: artists were given either to poor or paint cottages on Rublevka. Today, the “wild” market period seemed to be over, interested institutions have appeared - but they all clearly or veiledly serve the interests of the current government. Realism returns, selected by the new owners. Looking at these owners with concern, we are aware of the need to delve into the rejected layers of Soviet history. The spectrum of the possibilities of the future cannot be determined by simply crossing out something from the past: you have to pay for refusing historical thinking. Cambet of realism in a new guise is a logical dialectical round that followed the plug of non -conformists exhibitions.

19 February 2013

Article Criticism of Elena Ishchenko “Kapkolend without brakes” The only one of this collection was transferred to a new version of the site . We decided to bring her here because without her nowhere: she not only gave rise to a meme about pumpkin soup, but also promoted the protagonist of the article to suspect that they ordered him. Well, you understand. Read:

Now each fashion museum considers it his duty to open a restaurant or cafe, inviting a good chef there: if the exhibition does not like it, then even if at least the food will please. In the first building of the Garage, for example, there was a cafe of the same name, about which they wrote almost more often than about exhibitions. "Ah, what a delicious pumpkin soup!" - Visitors to the exhibition of James Tarrell admired.

May 13, 2013

Evgenia Abramova’s study on the work of the Gallery employees “Manager” VS deserves special attention. “Girl” ” , in many respects, still relevant:

“Girl” is a sign of submission, oppression, operation, humiliation. An eternal child, non-healing, dependent, received at the disposal of another. Any woman can be called a “girl” - this is how those who occupy a higher position in gender, institutional and professional hierarchies turn to women. “Girl” is the one whose professionalism will never be recognized. Despite the fact that the institutions of institutions are rarely heard in their address, nevertheless, it is generally accepted in informal communication. The other names that they remembered in this regard are “baby” and “Cinderella”. “This is told to me by the director of the man who is older than me [by age] and above me in position. This is his constant treatment. And this is his attitude towards me: I am small, naive, emotional, ”explains one of the employees, which is called“ baby ”.

July 4, 2013

The material “Please give way” , who was written for COLTA.RU PR specialist, who wished to remain anonymous, is a great example that allows us to understand why we are doing this at all. Much of what is criticized in this article is already fixed. Russian museums reacted constructively, honor and praise! And thanks to the author!

During the preparation of the material, I had to send them to the Plane. A.S. Pushkin, State Hermitage, the State Tretyakov Gallery, the State Russian Museum, Museums of the Moscow Kremlin, the State Historical Museum and the State Museum of the History of St. Petersburg, the request to assist, namely to provide information on the structure of the PR department and resume of the leader. Only Anna Kotlyar’s employees, heading the press service of the State Tretyakov Gallery, responded to the message. Here is the answer: “Unfortunately, we will not be able to provide you with information in such a short time. If you are satisfied with the end of the next week, we will be happy to help. ” The rest refrained. And in vain: ignoring the press is like walking around a minefield.