Alexey Korzhikov. Abstract Landscape: Solarpunk as a Visionary Future

About the exhibition

The Moscow Museum of Modern Art and the Free Workshops School of Contemporary Art proudly announce a sound-art project by Alexey Korzhikov. It is focused on the exploration of urban and natural landscapes in solarpunk aesthetics. The visitor is immersed in the sound space of the future, which is influenced by the ideas of sustainable development, post-capitalism and human-nature harmony. Solarpunk is a futuristic movement that offers an optimistic vision of a future where people use environmentally friendly technologies, live in harmony with nature and create a society based on sustainable development.

Solarpunk imagines a utopian future where renewable energy and technology are integrated into everyday life. How might cities and natural landscapes sound in such a world? Alexey Korzhikov’s research endeavours to answer this question.

The author fantasises what could be the sound of abandoned cities or destroyed buildings, or weather conditions. Mundane sounds, such as the buzz of the roads or the movements of ants preparing for winter, are revealed from a different perspective. Each recurring event takes on a new sound depending on its surroundings, creating a unique soundscape for the listener. According to the concept the exhibition space is divided into two main zones: urban and natural. Each zone features thematic installations. One is an attempt to recreate the urban environment with its usual attributes in a museum space: benches, poles, bins, electricity boxes. The second one is an attempt to imitate natural elements made of various construction materials – wire, thread, rubbish and so on. The exhibition also includes a video Fuga by the Provmyza Group from the museum’s collection, whose heroes are listeners of a classical music concert forced to fight against strong winds.

A custom-made composition by the author will be played as a musical accompaniment throughout the show.

About the artist

Alexey Korzhikov is a sound artist, composer, musician, producer, member of the bands Lenina paket, Panikhida, Kraater, amen, recorded an album under the pseudonym Kostum Unisex. Alexey's music was broadcasted on radios Mayak, Silver Rain and Radio Russia. He is credited with many performances at music festivals (Interesting Punk Aesthetics (as part of Lenina Paket); Jager Music Awards (performing as part of the Kraater band); Arma 2020 (with the Amen band), etc.). Since 2022 he is a resident of the independent record label Whisper.

About the school

The School of Contemporary Art Free Workshops is an educational platform of the Moscow Museum of Modern Art for young artists and curators. It was founded in 1992 by a group of artists and art historians, including Alexander Ponomarev, Vladimir Kupriyanov, Vladimir Nasedkin, and Moscow State University professors Vera Dazhina and Valery Turchin. The students attend workshops of the best speakers, successful cultural leaders, well-known philosophers, and theorists of contemporary art. Through the educational programme, young artists and curators immerse themselves in the art world, participate in workshops, group exhibitions and festivals. Being a part of the Museum, Free Workshops offer their audience a unique opportunity to study theoretical and practical aspects of contemporary art while being in its epicentre. At every stage of their journey the artists are supported by the Museum and the School. They are encouraged to take part in group exhibitions (annual exhibitions of young art, group projects by young curators) and to have solo exhibitions (MMOMA Young Art Support Programme).