6th Cosmoscow International Contemporary Art Fair Sums Up the Results
Cosmoscow VIP Preview, Vernissage, and a three-day public programme of Cosmoscow saw the record number of 70 participants, growing number of 19 000 visitors and rewarding sales results across Russian and international exhibitors. In order to attract collectors, Cosmoscow keeps including works at every price level. Remaining the only international contemporary art fair in Russia and CIS, Cosmoscow continues fostering local art market by supporting young and emerging artists and gallerists. The next Cosmoscow fair will take place in September 2019.
“Once again, Cosmoscow proved that the Russian market of contemporary art is gaining momentum. We are happy to receive positive feedback from galleries, collectors and the general public. With a number curated projects, non-commercial initiatives, educational and parallel events, it is also extremely gratifying to see that now Cosmoscow is much more than just an annual contemporary art fair.” said Margarita Pushkina, Founding Director of Cosmoscow International Contemporary Art Fair.
Cosmoscow 2018 main programming was divided into 7 sections. Galleries section, curated by the Fair’s Expert Committee members, represents both well established and new Russian and international galleries with their own exhibition space and proactively promoting their artists. Focus section welcomed contemporary art galleries from Belgium. Frame section, also curated by the Fair’s Expert Committee members, represented nomadic galleries with no permanent space. Editions section featured galleries, which deal with prints and multiples. Design section, curated by Kristina Krasnyanskaya, showcased galleries dealing with contemporary design. Two more sections were curated by Elena Selina. Past Present included works of recognized contemporary Russian art masters, whose names were relevant in the past and have not lost their artistic value in the present. As part of the Projects section, Cosmoscow participants displayed one or several large-scale art objects and installations.
“It was rewarding to see Cosmoscow audience and the level of its prowess. Compare with my first to Moscow fair back in 2011, it's night and day. And the intensive educational programme continues to lay a solid foundation for the future. It's a pity that I am not a visitor - I would very much like to spend a few enlightening days at this festival of contemporary art. There is a feeling that my colleagues are happy, and this is the most important thing for me, as a gallerist,” said Olga Temnikova of the Temnikova & Kasela, member of the Cosmoscow Expert Committee.
For the second consecutive year, one of the exhibitors is awarded the Cosmoscow Stand Prize. This year the victory was shared by two galleries – HLAM and Osnova Gallery. This year members of the jury include Carlos Durán, Founding co-director of LOOP; Anastasia Shavlokhova, an independent art curator and a founder of the Winzavod's Philosophy club; Alexandra Danilova, deputy head of the Department of 19th and 20th Century European and American Art of the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts; Valentin Dyakonov, art historian, art-critic, curator. The winners will get an opportunity to participate in Cosmoscow 2019 for half of the price.
“My impressions of the Fair are good. One more step forward is made. I see a huge interest in contemporary art among collectors and viewers, which means that we are on the right track,” said Elena Selina of the XL Gallery, member of the Cosmoscow Expert Committee, curator of the Projects and Past Present sections.
