MMOMA 99/19
“MMOMA 99/12” exhibition is made to time of the 20th anniversary of Moscow museum of modern art. The project continues the line of anniversary exhibitions of MMOMA — “Open Day” (2009 — 2010) and “Fortune Museum” (2014 — 2015). The main theme of these projects is to show MMOMA’s collection in a new way as well as its historic building in Petrovka, 25 created by famous architect Matvey Kazakov.
Exhibition’s turning point is an artwork “Everything Is Going To Be Alright” by British artist Martin Creed — for a few years this neon writing welcomes the visitors of MMOMA at the entrance. In the exhibition’s design neon goes inside — a party vibe was created with the help of different light scenarios in stiff enfilades of the mansion. Grids of luminescent lamps reference the so-called Y2K style that as well as MMOMA came up between the millenniums. This esthetic, both eerie and alluring, was born in contradictions between old and new, analog and cyber world. That is the way the MMOMA’s collection is, where paintings of 19th century are mixed with media art.
The exhibition occupies 20 halls (one for every year of MMOMA’s existence), each hall has its own curator. Due to its anniversary museum has invited professionals from different fields to rethink the collection. There are experts from expected theatre and fashion as well as surprising spheres like digital technologies and perfume. Each hall is designed in collaboration with their authors — the exhibition design itself became the curator’s portrait.