Leonid Bazhanov, a prominent art historian and curator known for founding the National Centre for Contemporary Arts in Moscow, passed away at 79. His leadership expanded the NCCA across Russia, fostering a vibrant contemporary art scene that emerged from the Soviet era. However, under Putin's regime, artistic freedom has waned, culminating in the NCCA's merger with state entities. Bazhanov had warned of dire implications for art after the invasion of Ukraine, predicting the government would mimic cultural trends rather than genuinely support artistic expression.
"In a sense, I would say that Moscow Conceptualism is united by an inner feeling that the world is divided, all the texts are written, the pictures are painted."
"The government will not return to socialist realism but will create a simulacrum, imitating trends of entertainment and the shopping mall."
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