Kandinsky Prize in London 17 October - 10 December 2009

LONDON -

- RUSSIA’S MOST PRESTIGIOUS CONTEMPORARY ART PRIZE NAMES THE NOMINEES FOR THE 2009 AWARDS, PAVEL PEPPERSTEIN, NIKOLAI POLISSKY, IRINA KORINA, IGOR MUKHIN, KONSTANTIN BATYNKOV, IVAN LUNGIN, ALEKSANDRA DEMENTIEVA AND RECYCLE GROUP

The 2009 Kandinsky Prize finalists were named at the Louise Blouin Foundation which is currently exhibiting the Kandinsky Prize in London. Organised by ArtChronika Foundation, in collaboration with the Louise Blouin Foundation and general sponsor IFD Kapital, the Kandinsky Prize in London is showcasing the work of selected 2008 nominees. The exhibition is curated by the high-profile artist and curator Oleg Kulik, in an installation designed by noted architect Boris Bernaskoni. Kandinsky Prize in London will be on show from 17 October to 10 December 2009 at the Louise Blouin Foundation (3 Olaf Street, London W11 4BE).

The Kandinsky Prize exhibition, set to coincide with the Frieze Art Fair, has raised considerable interest in the media and international art world. Shalva Breus, President of ArtChronika Foundation, explains: “The Kandinsky Prize differs from many other awards for contemporary art — both in Russia and internationally — in three significant ways. First, there is the principle of self-nomination. In other words, in addition to galleries and cultural institutions, artists can nominate themselves and each other. In this way, we remove a secondary filter and bring the artist direct to the Kandinsky Prize.

Second, within the framework of the Kandinsky Prize there are three exhibitions every year — one in Moscow and two abroad. In this way, the Kandinsky Prize is not a lone event, but a process, an institution continuously working in the sphere of art.

Finally, the key feature is that it is mandated within the regulations that all works submitted must have been made within the last two years. Therefore, we ensure that the works reflect the latest and most topical processes in contemporary Russian art.”

The exhibition of 2009 nominees will open in Moscow at the Central House of Artists on 2 November 2009. Three weeks later, the jury will name the winners in three categories: Project of the Year, Young Artist Project of the Year and Media Art Project of the Year. Among the 44 artists included in the nominations for the 2009 Kandinsky Prize are Pavel Pepperstein, Nikolai Polissky, Irina Korina, Igor Mukhin, Ivan Lungin, Konstantin Batynkov, Aleksandra Dementieva and Recycle Group.

“The Kandinsky Prize in London has been planned to showcase Russian art that represents important trends, ideas and subjects in Russia today as a way to elucidate that which is unique to Russian art: its traditions, visual dialects and aesthetics. While we live in an increasingly globalised society, it is vital we recognise what is unique about specific cultures from across the world,” says Louise Blouin, Founder and Chairman of the Louise Blouin Foundation. “The Kandinsky Prize encapsulates my abiding belief in the importance of culture not only as a catalyst for change but as the foremost tool for cultural dialogue in a globalised world. By bringing the Kandinsky Prize to London, we hope to create a dialogue that celebrates differences of language, images, symbols, gestures and vocabulary, and at the same time creating resonance and understanding.”

Additional information:

ArtChronika Foundation is founded and chaired by Shalva Breus, the publisher of Russian art magazine ArtChronika. ArtChronika Foundation’s mission is to promote contemporary art in Russia. For that purpose the Kandinsky Prize was created at the Foundation in 2007.

Louise Blouin Foundation is founded and chaired by Louise Blouin, who is also Chief Executive Officer of Louise Blouin Media, a global media company with a commitment to the arts and culture. Louise Blouin Media is one of the world’s largest art magazine publishers and information providers, with more than 165 annual productions and readership of over 6 million art enthusiasts, collectors, and art professionals. Titles include Art + Auction, Modern Painters, Gallery Guide, ARTINFO.com, Art Sales Index, Gordon’s and Somogy.

ARTINFO.com has become the world’s leading online source for up-to-the-minute news and information on contemporary and fine art, gallery openings, museums, art fairs, collectors and collecting, auction results, market trends and analysis, cultural events and destinations.

Related Links: www.kandinsky-prize.ru www.ltbfoundation.org/ www.artinfo.com/news/story/32919/oleg-kulik/ artinfo.com

Source: Louise Blouin Media

Alexandra Zafiriou, VP Communication of Louise Blouin Media, +44-0-759-5056-392, azafiriou at artinfo.com