Vadim Zakharov, ARTIST MUST THINK!, 2021

vaDIM zakharov

Sometimes, to understand the present we need to look to the past. We lack in dimensional vision. We need a different point of reference. But it is no easy task to find it. The work «Me-Ti. Book of changes» of Bertolt Brecht concentrates on historical figures, philosophers, poets. Brecht did not risk approaching analysis of his epoch alone. His thoughts are contradictory, much like his life. The book does not always present an obvious answer to whose views the author shares. However, perhaps it is this fact which gives the feeling of insight into reality of the contradictory times. 

The characters are well familiar to everyone – Lenin, Stalin, Hitler, Trotsky, Marx and Engels, Rosa Luxemburg, Feuchtwanger, Hegel, and Brecht himself together with Ruth Berlau – his lady friend of the certain period of his life. All the characters appear under pseudo Chinese names: Ka-Me, Eh-Fu, Mi-En-Leh, Ni-En, Hi-Eh, To-Dzi, Fe-Khu-Wang, Sah, Lai-Tu, He-Le, ancient philosopher Me-Ti. Topicality and effectuality of the book at present are unbelievable. Many of the names mentioned above took an active part in forming our current mad life. We are still rummaging through disgusting waste left by them, crying out to the sky – How could this happen?! How people of the twentieth century let it happen? And, of course: can all of this repeat in future?

        Vadim Zakharov

 
 

Film in One Drawing, 2011- 2017
(Three parts: action, drawing, photos)

 

Vadim Zakharov, “King Kong (1933) in one Drawing”, 2014, directed by Merian C. Cooper, Ernest B. Schoedsack a. Non Stop Action, drawing of the film - 87 min, paper, pencil, acryl, 115 x 150 cm

Vadim Zakharov, “King Kong (1933) in one Drawing”, 2014, directed by Merian C. Cooper, Ernest B. Schoedsack a. Non Stop Action, drawing of the film - 87 min, paper, pencil, acryl, 115 x 150 cm

 
 

Vadim Zakharov, “Der Golem, wie er in dei Welt kam (1920) in One Drawing”, 2014, directed by Paul Wegener (Deutschland). a. Non Stop Action, drawing of the film - 87 min, paper, pencil, pastel, acryl, 115 x 150 cm

Vadim Zakharov, “Der Golem, wie er in dei Welt kam (1920) in One Drawing”, 2014, directed by Paul Wegener (Deutschland). a. Non Stop Action, drawing of the film - 87 min, paper, pencil, pastel, acryl, 115 x 150 cm

 
 

Vadim Zakharov, “Un Chien Andalou (1929) in One Drawing”, 2017 Paper, pencil, pastel, 115 x 150 cm.
1. Non Stop Action, drawing of the film – 21 MIN.

Vadim Zakharov, “Un Chien Andalou (1929) in One Drawing”, 2017 Paper, pencil, pastel, 115 x 150 cm.
1. Non Stop Action, drawing of the film – 21 MIN.

 
 

Danaë

Russian pavilion, VENICE BIENNALE 2013

 
 
 
 

Vadim Zakharov © Danae-russ pavilion, 2013. Photo: Daniel Zakharov

Vadim Zakharov © Danae-russ pavilion, 2013. Photo: Daniel Zakharov

 
 

Vadim Zakharov © Danae-russ pavilion, 2013. Photo: Daniel Zakharov

 

I Have Acquired Enemies

1982

 

Vadim Zakharov, I Have Acquired Enemies, 1982

 

BIOGRAPHY

Vadim Zakharov was born in Dushanbe in 1959. He is an artist, editor, archivist of the Moscow Conceptual art scene, collector. Since 1978 he took part in exhibitions of unofficial art and collaborated with artists such as: V. Skersis, S. Anufriev, A. Monastyrski, Y. Leiderman. In the years 1982 to 1983 he participated at the AptArt Gallery, Moscow. Since 1992 he has published the Pastor magazine and founded the Pastor Zond Edition. During the years 2010 to 2018 he created and systematized the website www.conceptualism- moscow.org. Vadim Zakharov is the author of the Adorno Monument in Frankfurt am Main (2003). His retrospective 25 Years on One Page was held at the Tretyakov Gallery in 2006. He represented Russia at the Venice Biennale in 2013 with the project Danaë. He lives and works in Berlin.

  • HONORS and AWARDS

    • A. Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach Stiftung, Katalogförderung, 1995

    • Griffelkunst Preis, Hamburg, 1995

    • Renta-Preis 1995, Kunsthalle Nürnberg

    • Soratnik price, Moscow, 2006

    • Best Work of Visual Art 2006 – V. Zakharov, Contemporary Visual Art Award, “Innovation”, Moscow

    • Joseph Brodsky Memorial Fellowship Fund, American Academy in Rome, 2007

    • Kandinsky Prize - Best Work of Year 2009, Moscow

    PUBLIC PROJECTS

    • Adorno Monument. Theodor-W.-Adorno-Platz, Frankfurt am Main, 2003

    BIENNALES

    • 49 Venice Biennale, Plateau of Humankind, Arsenal, Director Harald Szeemann, 2001

    • 1st Thessaloniki Biennale, “Black Birds” installation, Museum of Byzantine Culture, 2007

    • 55th Venice Biennale, Vadim Zakharov, “Danaë”, Russian Pavilion, 2013

    • 5th Moscow Biennale, Vadim Zakharov, “Dead Languages Dance. Fall collection”, TSUM, 2013

    • “2014. Space Odyssey”, CAFAM BIENNALE, Beijing, 2014

    • 3rd Biennale of Bahia, Museum of Modern Art of Bahia, 2014

    • 14 Krasnoyarsk Museum Biennale, 2021

    SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS AND HAPPENINGS

    2018

    • Vadim Zakharov. Tunguska Event, History Marches on a Table, MAMbo, Bologna

    2015

    • “Postscript after RIP. A video Archive of Moscow Artist’s exhibitions 1989-2014”, Garage, Moscow

    2017

    • Vadim Zakharov. Tunguska Event, History Marches on a Table, Whitechapel Gallery, London, 2017

    2014

    • “Interior of Archivist”, Gallery Mario Marouner, Wien, 2014

    2013

    • Vadim Zakharov, Maria Porudominskaja “Ideologisches Defilee. Nach dem Werk von Bertolt Brecht Meti. Buch der Wendungen”, Arsenal, Nizni Novgorod, 2013

    2006

    • “Vadim Zakharov. 25 years on one page”, State Tretjakov Gallery, Moscow • “Close to Copy – Close to Original, Kunst-station Sankt Peter, Cologne

    1998

    • Letzter punkt des Verlegers Pastor Zond. Verlegerstatigkeit 1992-98, Galerie Hohenthal und Bergen, Berlin

    1996 .

    • ”Funny and sad adventuries of Foolish Pastor“. Project for Atopic Site, Japan

    1995

    • “Der letzte Spaziergang durch die Elysischen Felder”, Retrospektive 1978–95, Kölnischer Kunstverein

    1994

    • "Typographische Erhebung", Galerie Sophia Ungers, Köln 1992 • “Pastor`s Schleuse”, Galerie Sophia Ungers, Köln

    1989

    • Vadim Zakharov, Kunstverein, Freiburg im Breisgau

    • Vadim Zakharov, Galerie Peter Pakesch, Wien

    • Vadim Zakharov, Galerie Sophia Ungers, Köln

    1984

    • Vadim Zakharov, APTART Gallery, Moscow

    SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

    2020

    • "CONCEPTUAL COMICS", Éditions Incertain Sens / Cabinet du livre d'artiste

    2018

    • “Who's Afraid of Red, Yellow and Blu”, Vadim Zakharov action “Through a Forest Wilderness Exhibition in the forest. Actions in the Forest. Performance, Conceptual Art, Events. 1960 - ∞”

    2014

    • “Ресторан ‘Философский пароход’”. Exhibition “Progress and Hygiene”, Zachęta, National Galeria Sztuki, Warszawa

    2010

    • “Contrepoint”, Louvre, Paris

    2005

    • “Russia!” Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation. New York

    1991

    • “Metropolis”. International Art exhibition. Martin-Gropius-Bau, Berlin

    1990

    • “Between Spring and Summer. Soviet Conceptual Art in the Era of Late Communism”. Tacoma Art Museum, Washington, ICA Boston

    1990

    • “In the USSR and Beyond”. Stedelijk Museum. Amsterdam, 1990

    1990

    • “Contemporary russian Artists/ Artisti russi contemporanei”. Museo D'Arte contemporanea. Prato, 1990

    1989

    • 10 + 10. Contemporary Soviet and American Painters”. Modern Art Museum, Fort Worth, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo.

    COLLECTIONS

    • Guggenheim Museum, New York, USA

    • Modern Art Museum, Frankfurt, DE

    • Deutsche Bank Collection, Frankfurt am Main, DE

    • Kupferstiekabinet, Berlin, DE

    • Ludwig Museum, Aachen, Budapest, Saint Petersburg, RU

    • Zimmerli Art Museum, Rutgers USA

    • Museum of Art at Duke University, USA

    • Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest, HU

    • TATE Modern, London, UK

    • Strasbourg Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, DE

    • Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow, RU

    • Russian Museum, Saint Petersburg, RU

    • Museum of Modern Art, Moscow, RU

    • Moscow Collections of the NCCA, Moscow, RU

 

EXHIBITIONS

Vadim Zakharov

George Orwell / 7 Dictators / Duchamp prostate

curated by Chiara Valci Mazzara

September 11, 2021 - January 07, 2022