After decades of state mandated realism and an artistic history that respects the understanding and articulation of formal aesthetic values, Russian artists find themselves faced with the task of integrating international conceptual practices with traditional cultural values. Torn between an affinity to its conservative cultural roots and an ongoing need for a more demanding contemporary cultural conversation the country’s art world is finding itself at a turning point. While artists feel a strong desire to integrate contemporary references into their work it is equally important for these artists to utilize a contemporary language that does not imitate the west, but creates work in common with an international dialogue that is also steeped in the methods, perspectives and ideologies that make Russian artists unique. This work is frequently filled with historical cultural references manifested in imagery laced with commentary on the duality of contemporary Russian culture. Modern customs exist alongside the physical remainder of the lifestyle and cultural traditions of the Soviet period. A concept often illustrated through the traditional themes of fantasy, fairy tale, performance, music, dance and documentary, with a touch of Russian humor. 

Thomas Werner has spent close to one hundred twenty days a year meeting with artists across northwestern and central Russia. This exhibition, the first in a series of exhibitions by Werner to offer visibility to a group of contemporary artists from Russia’s provinces and cultural centers, is one result of the initial and subsequent meetings over the past three years. The exhibition includes twenty artists from the cities of Saint Petersburg, Moscow, Petrozavodsk, Arkhangelsk, Kaliningrad, Murmansk, Novosibirsk and Tomsk.  

The title “Under The Glass”, was given to Thomas by an older photographer in Murmansk. When discussing the upcoming exhibition the photographer said, “Under the Glass is a good title, our photos are under the glass and we are under the glass. We are here but like our photos are kept under the glass.” This exhibition is titled in honor of this man and his friends who so deeply love their craft, and for those who have created work for so long in Russia, “under the glass” without it being seen.

Сегодня первое Первое сентября, которое я не ощущаю никак. (Хотя должен бы был, ну уж в этом году точно.)

Теперь это другая дата.
О да

Глущенко! Чтоб я сдох от твоих пленок.
Вся ванная в них.

А между тем, Пауль сегодня уехал на поезде в Тоскву.
Что же про себя-то думать?

Вчера утром Саша уехала в Литву. Пить с писателями, наверное. Или точно. Автобус в 7, Саша думала, что в 6, мама на автовокзал привезла в 5.

"...а 18 апреля мне будет 22, а я до сих пор не замужем!" — "Саша, ты это сейчас серьезно сказала?" — "Ну... наполовину — да, а на половину — нет". И по голосу понятно, что нет никаких половин.