About the Cultural Foundation “EKATERINA”

The Cultural Foundation “EKATERINA” was established in 2002 as a non-commercial organization. Since then the Foundation has been engaged in a variety of activities, such as organizing exhibitions, publishing, collecting works by contemporary artists, and supporting cultural and educational projects.

The Cultural Foundation “EKATERINA” has been consistently implementing the projects of large-scale exhibitions presenting the brightest and most interesting samples of Russian art.

In 2004 - 2005 the Cultural Foundation “EKATERINA” undertook the first large-scale project devoted to the artists of “The Knave of Diamonds” group.

The exhibition entitled “The Russian Painters of “The Knave of Diamonds” Group: Between Cézanne and the Avant-Garde” was held in the spring of 2004 in the State Exhibition Hall of Monaco under the patronage of His Serene Highness, the Hereditary Prince of Monaco Albert II. For the first time a single exhibition encompassed works from collections belonging to the State Russian Museum, the State Tretyakov Gallery, and more than 15 regional museums and private collections. Different versions of the exhibition were also presented at the State Russian Museum and the State Tretyakov Gallery.

In 2005 the Cultural Foundation “EKATERINA” participated in the largest retrospective of Russian art: the “Russia!” exhibition in New York and Bilbao at the Guggenheim museum. The Foundation supported the publication of the exhibition catalogue in Russian.

In 2009 the Foundation in cooperation with the New National Museum of Monaco and with participation of the State Tretyakov Gallery realized an exhibition project, devoted to the 100th anniversary of Sergey Diaghilev’s “Russian Ballets”. The exhibition named “Etonne-moi!” Sergey Diaghilev and Russian Ballet Seasons” (curators John Bowlt and Zelfira Tregulova), was shown in the Principality of Monaco in summer 2009. A different curatorial version of the project was presented in Moscow. The exhibition came under the name “Feast of Wonders. To the 100th anniversary of Sergey Diaghilev’s Russian Ballets in Paris” and was displayed on the premises of the State Tretyakov Gallery.

A special place in the Foundation’s activity belongs to projects devoted to Russian artists of the second part of XXth century. On the initiative of the Foundation, a large-scale retrospective exhibition of Erik Bulatov’s works was organized. The exhibition was on display at the State Tretyakov Gallery’s building in Krymsky Val. For the first time, the Russian public could see over 100 paintings by the artist — from early works created in the 1960s to most recent ones, most of which never been shown before.

In February 2007, the first private exhibition halls opened in Moscow — the halls of the Cultural Foundation “EKATERINA” in Kuznetsky Most. The exhibition “Movement. Evolution. Art”, realized within the framework of the Second Moscow Biennale of Contemporary Art, demonstrated the collection of “EKATERINA”s founders in the form of a large exposition for the first time — the exhibition encompassed the period of 1916-2006, and included 75 works.

In April – June 2007, Vladimir Yankilevsky’s retrospective exhibition “The Moment of Eternity” was held at the Cultural Foundation “EKATERINA”, organized jointly with the State Russian Museum. Large triptychs, pentaptychs and artifacts were assembled from the private collections and museums around the world.

At the beginning of 2009, the Foundation hosted the first retrospective show of an important proponent of Russian art, a pioneer of the “Grim style”, the maître Tair Salakhov. The exhibition presented most famous works of the master from Russian museums, as well as his paintings from Azerbaijan Museums and private collections, which are known mostly by catalogs and art books.

Another important aspect of the Foundation’s exhibition program is the introduction of Russian and international contemporary art to the Russian public.

In 2007-2009 the Foundation halls saw the opening of a unique exhibitions – a solo exhibition of iconic American artist Robert Wilson’s “VOOM Portraits”, a retrospective show  of works by Andreas Gursky, the internationally renowned master of contemporary photography (the project was presented as a part of the Photobiennale 2008) and David Lynch’s personal exhibition “The Air is on Fire” (held in the context of the festival “Fashion and Style in Photography”), which reflected a full spectrum of famous filmmaker’s creative searches.

The Foundation also hosted a solo exhibition of Viktor Alimpiev’s works entitled “Whose is this Exhalation?”, which was the first retrospective show, presenting video art and paintings of one of the most interesting young artists.

The Cultural Foundation “EKATERINA” effectively cooperates with state museums, art centers and Foundations both in Russia and abroad.

The Foundation has participated in two large-scale projects of the State Tretyakov Gallery: “Russian Pop-Art” and “Sots Art. Political Art in Russia” (Moscow-Paris). In 2007, the Foundation provided support for the City of Paris Modern Art Museum (Musee d`Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris) in organizing an exhibition of Erik Bulatov’s works entitled “Vot” (“That’s It”).

In autumn 2008, the Cultural Foundation “EKATERINA” hosted the unique project “The Grace Kelly Years, Princess of Monaco” (curated by Frederic Mitterand and designed by Nathalie Criniere), organized by Grimaldi Forum (Monaco) and the Foundation. The exhibition drew on a collection of the Princess’s personal belongings, including articles of clothing, jewelry, accessories, film memorabilia, correspondence, as well as unique photographs and video archives, including not only documentaries but also home videos made by Grace.

Currently the Foundation actively participate in the largest Russian festival of contemporary art — the Moscow Biennale. In 2009 within the framework of the Biennale the Foundation presented the exhibition “Persona. Image. Time. Human Representation in Art: from Modernism to the Present – Day”, demonstrating more than 115 works of art from Ekaterina and Vladimir Semenikhin’s collection and cover the period from the end of XXth century to the early XXIth century. The Foundation demonstrated another special project “Wonder World. Expecting a Restless Future” prepared by the Italian curator Stefano Pezzato.

The publishing program requires the special attention. Almost all the exhibitions in the past have been preceded by an original catalogue. In 2008 on the part of the Foundation a three-volume illustrated publication on Dmitry Krasnopevtsev’s works was prepared by the Bonfi Publishing House, in 2009 was published an Erik Bulatov’s book “I Live On”. In cooperation with the New National Museum of Monaco and “SKIRA” Publishing House a unique catalogue “Feast of Wonders. Sergey Diaghilev and the Russian Ballets” was published.

In 2010 as part of the cultural exchange program Year of Russia and France 2010, the Foundation presented a solo exhibition of Jean-Marc Bustamante and two projects organized in collaboration with the Multimedia Art Museum, Moscow - a retrospective show of Annette Messager “Fictions, temptations, manipulations” and an exhibition of Fabrice Hyber. These three projects continued the Foundation’s program of acquainting the Russian audience with the most interesting phenomena of the international contemporary art. In the near future the Foundation intends to organize an exhibition devoted to the Russian non-official art of 70s – 80s of XXth century.

The Foundation is set to work on the projects dedicated also to the most significant developments in Russian art. In October - December 2010, the Foundation presents “Field of Action. The Moscow Conceptualist School in Context 1970s-1980s”. The exhibition includes over 300 pieces: works by the most prominent artists of this period, photographs and unique documentary materials.

In 2011, the Cultural Foundation “EKATERINA” following its own way of development:
In February 2011, the Foundation took part in “FOCUS RUSSIA” non-profit special show program of the ARCO_madrid international contemporary art fair. Ekaterina and Vladimir Semenikhin founders were awarded by the “ARCO Friends Association” in the “International Art Collecting” category (Premio al Coleccionismo Internacional).

From March 23 to May 22, 2011 the project “Dream Weavers” ─ Cirque du Soleil costume exhibition was demonstrated at the Foundation, organized jointly with the Canadian Circus Du Soleil.