About the artist:

Alexander Brodsky was educated at the Moscow Architecture Institute where he graduated in 1978. Brodsky's first encounter with the public eye was during the late 1970s. He was a key member of the paper architects (visionary architecture), and furthermore, worked alongside Ilya Utkin in his etchings of distorted cityscapes. Paper architecture was a response to state sanctioned architecture that consisted of standardised and often poorly constructed buildings, which imbued their environments with a communist aesthetic. Such a response allowed paper architects to retreat into their imaginations and defy uniform Soviet architecture through vivid depictions of constructivism, deconstructivism and postmodernism. According to Anna Sokolina, paper architects rose to prominence within the Western world as many of their works won prestigious awards in professional competitions and helped to shape an understanding of Russian modern and postmodern architecture. Scholarship has shown that the whimsical and constructivist etchings of Brodsky and Utkin translate mere illustrations into narratives through the introduction of human characters. These were narratives that voiced man's alienation within the urban world and provided a commentary on the loss of Moscows historical architectural heritage. Alexander Brodsky is an architect and former member of the group Paper Architects operating in Russia in the 1980s, whose work centred around a refusal to take part in state sponsored architectural production of low-quality, standardised buildings. During the 1990s Brodsky produced contemporary art, moving to New York in 1996. In 2000 he returned to Russia to finally practice freely as an architect, working out of a small office in Moscow State Museum, an indication of the regard in which he is now held in his home country. Brodsky's work is characterised by a concern with traditional building, using local materials to produce an architecture that celebrates Russian heritage whilst at the same time acting as a critique of the unregulated and corrupt building industry. His work thus stands in contrast to the untethered development occurring in Russia, in particular in Moscow and in the threat to St Petersburg's world heritage status. Whilst Western 'star architects' are building controversial projects, Brodsky's architecture remains restrained, blurring the line between art and architecture. He has built a pavilion made completely out of discarded timber window frames from industrial warehouses, a monument to the wanton destruction of Russia's industrial heritage as well as a celebration of Russian tradition-the pavilion was designed for vodka drinking ceremonies. He has built another pavilion in the middle of a frozen lake with ice cubes, whilst his very first commission in 2002 was for a restaurant. Built on wooden stilts by a reservoir, the whole structure is tilted at an angle of 95° and infilled with wood and plastic. Brodsky's architecture combines local and reused materials to produce buildings that are both traditional and modern, his sombre buildings acting as a reminder of the fragility of the city. Although aesthetically very different, his reuse of old windows, bits of timber and glass to make new structures is similar to the approach taken by the Dutch practice, 2012 Architecten, of recycling materials without reprocessing. Brodsky travelled to New York in 1990 at the invitation of gallerist Ronald Feldman and then moved there in 1996 to complete public projects as well as personal installations. In 1996 the Public Art Fund asked Brodsky to transform an unused set of tracks in the Canal Street subway station. Brodsky transformed the station for two months into a Venetian lagoon using a 5000-gallon tank, which held life-size gondolas and cut out passengers. In 1999 Brodsky created Palazzo Nudo in Pittsburgh, a 16 metre high house shaped skeleton with the crumbled ruins of the metropolis heaped in the centre. Coma, 2000, displayed at the Guelman Gallery in Moscow showed the city "as if it was in a hospital or on a surgeon's table" and his work produced for 2006 Venice Architecture Biennale was an ominous and foreboding comment on the doomed fate of Venice sinking into the sea. Night Before the Attack, 2009, discusses the associations of emotion with structure and scale. Brodsky used the title to enlighten the viewer's understanding of a story that lay beneath the artwork. Such a narrative has imbued new meaning and significance to the old structures that have been appropriated within the installation. Other Works: Alexander Brodsky, Ingerid Helsing and Einar Bjarki Malmquist, 'Tegningens Virkelighet: Et Intervju med Alexander Brodsky = The Reality of Drawing: An Interview with Alexander Brodsky', Arkitektur N, 90 (2008), 42-51. Ilya Utkin, Russian (1955 - ) 1955 Born in Moscow, USSR. 1978 He graduated from the Moscow Architectural Institute in the group of Professor Boris Barkhin. 1978-1993 Collaboration with Aleksandrom Brodskim. 1994 Studio heads Utkin (Architecture and Design). Professor of the International Academy of Architecture (Moscow). Lives in Moscow. SELECTED AWARDS 1978 The second prize contest on OISTT «Theater for future generations", Paris (1993 until all prizes obtained with A. Brodsky). 1982 First prize in the competition JA «Crystal Palace», Tokyo. 1983 Third prize in the competition JA «Residence historical and local", Tokyo. 1984 Second prize in the competition JA «Glass Tower", Tokyo. 1985 Second prize in the competition JA «stronghold of resistance", Tokyo. 1986 Second prize in the competition JA «Glass monument in 2001", Tokyo. 1987 Honorable mention in the competition JA «Smart market", Tokyo. 1988 First prize in the design competition "East meets West" Competition Center «Jacob K. Javits », New York. 1997 Third prize in the competition JA «Millennium Tower", Tokyo. Third place in the ranking of Architecture "top 10 buildings of the decade", Moscow (the place is divided by A. Brodsky and E. Monakhov) Second place in the competition "Best Project of the Year" of the Russian Union of Architects (with S. Shestopalov). 2000 "Star of the Golden Lion." For contribution to the exposition of the Russian pavilion. Venice Biennale. 7th International Architecture Exhibition. 2003 Nomination for the contest "Golden Soffit" for the scenography for the ballet "Cinderella", St. Petersburg. 2003 Nomination for the contest "Golden Mask" for the scenography for the ballet "Cinderella", St. Petersburg. 2004 First prize in the competition "The Ideal City" for the project "The Ark", Moscow. SELECTED PROJECTS 1984 The project is a pedestrian bridge, Tacoma, United States (together with A. Brodsky). 1984 Master-class "architecture of Chaos", the Moscow Architectural Institute (in collaboration with Dushkin). 1995-1996 Project Business Center in Syromyatnikov, Moscow (with S. Shestopalov). 1996 Project VIVOS Laboratory, Moscow, (with S. Shestopalov). The project of the Museum of Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, Moscow, (with S. Shestopalov). Church of the Resurrection in Sokolniki, Moscow. ensemble reconstruction concept (with S. Shestopalov). 1997 Savings Bank building, Sergiev Posad, Russia. Architectural conception, Moscow, (with S. Shestopalov). The project Holy Trinity Podvorya near Sochi, Moscow, (with S. Shestopalov). Rehabilitation sports complex in Khimki, Moscow. 1998 Kazarnovskii educational and sports complex, Moscow. The architectural concept. Building project restaurant (ECSODUS Ltd.), Moscow (with E. Monakhov). Competition project for the Museum of Art, Duke University, USA. 1999 The project is a wooden church for Valaam Island, Russia. The "Time Capsule" design competition for The New York Times, USA. The scenery for the play "The Brothers and Lisa" Theater. Moscow City Council, Moscow. The reconstruction of the cinema "October", Moscow (with V. Fenogenovym). 2000 Residential complex "Monplaisir", with the layout of the adjacent park, Moscow Residential project "The Palace", Moscow (with S. Kiselyov and M. Chirkov) 2001 Disposition of the village Nicolino, Moscow region Project settlement plan Zhukovka, Moscow Region 2002 Country house near Prague, Czech Republic Disposition of the Holy-Transfiguration Valaam Monastery "The new monastery", Republic of Karelia, Russia 2003 Tourist Complex, Sudak, Crimea, Ukraine Disposition of the village, "The Ark", Moscow region 2004 Temple of Russian new martyrs, "Pantheon", the Butovo Polygon, Moscow 2005 Rustic villa, Moscow region Rustic villa, Moscow region Rustic villa, Moscow region Reconstruction of the Conception Convent, Moscow City estate, Moscow The apartment complex on Neglinnaya Street, Moscow 2006 South Cottage, Krasnodar region, Russian Federation Rustic villa, Moscow region Rustic villa, Moscow region Planning settlement "Golden Valley", Moscow region Country estate complex, Moscow region The regeneration of the complex of houses, Moscow 2007 Rustic villa, Moscow region Residential building with underground parking, Tyumen, Russian Federation Rustic villa, Moscow region Housing estate "Marfino", Moscow 2008 Residential complex "White City", Pyalovskoe Reservoir, Moscow Region Rural cottage M, Moscow region The apartment complex, Sergiev Posad, Moscow region Reconstruction of the town square, Serpukhov, Moscow region SELECTED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION 1985-1989 Museum Aleksandra Grina, Feodosia, the USSR (with A.Brodskim) 1986-1987 "Atrium" restaurant, Moscow, USSR (with A. Brodsky and E. Monakhov). 1991-1992 The entrance portal European ceramics center, 's Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands (with A. Brodsky) 1997-2000 Country estate in the village of Pines, Moscow region 2000-2004 Multi-storey residential building in Levshinskiy Lane, Moscow. (Together with the SCIP) 2000-2004 Country estate in the village of Zhukovka, Moscow Region 2000-2004 Country estate in the village of Zhukovka, Moscow Region 2005-2007 Individual house, Tver region OTHER JOBS 1998 Set design for the play Theater. Moscow City Council, "Brothers and Lisa", Moscow. 2000 Set design for the ballet "Cinderella" of the Mariinsky Theater, St. Petersburg 2005 Set design for the ballet "Bright Stream", National Opera, Riga (with E. and E. Markov Monakhov) 2008 Set design for the ballet "Flames of Paris", the Bolshoi Theater, Moscow (with E. Monakhov and E. Markov) SOLO EXHIBITIONS 1984 Gallery "Regina", a photo exhibition "Melancholy", Moscow 1995-1998 Photo exhibition "Melancholy", USA 2000 "Outdated architecture Ili Utkina" Moskomarkhitektura, Moscow 2001 "24" photo exhibition. House of Photography. Moscow Joint exhibition with Aleksandrom Brodskim 1989 Gallery of San Diego University, USA, "Alexander Brodsky and Ilya Utkin". 1990 Gallery "Linda Farris", Seattle, Washington, USA, "Alexander Brodsky and Ilya Utkin". Gallery «Ronald Feldman Fine Arts», New York, USA, "Brodsky & Utkin." 1991 Gallery 72, Omaha, USA, "Architectural drawings Aleksandra Brodskogo and Ili Utkina". Tacoma Art Museum, United States, "Brodsky and Utkin: 12 Bridge Street Project". Pittsburgh Art Center, USA, "Brodsky and Utkin." 1991 Art Gallery Wellington, New Zealand, «PALAZZO NERO» (Black Palace). Art Museum of the University of Arizona, Tucson, USA, "Alexander Brodsky and Ilya Utkin: Projects". 1992 Portland Museum of Art, USA, "Brodsky and Utkin: Paper Architecture in the real world." Bailey Art Museum, University of Virginia, USA, "Brodsky and Utkin: Sculpture and prints two Russian" paper "architects". 1993 Gallery 210, University of Missouri, St. Louis, USA, "Brodsky and Utkin - Paper Architecture". Gallery «Kathy Kaperick», Tacoma, United States, "Brodsky and Utkin." SELECTED EXHIBITIONS 1985 Gallery SKVC, Ljubljana, "paper architecture." 1988 «La Grande Halle de La Villette», Paris, the Soviet paper architecture. " Museum of Finnish Architecture, Helsinki, "Soviet architecture 1917 -1988." 17th Triennale, Milan, "City of the world and the future of the metropolis." «The Clocktower», New York, present tense: 25 years disrespectful architecture. " Architectural Association, London, "Culture of Nostalgia." 1989 German Architecture Museum, Frankfurt, "Paper Architecture - new projects of the Soviet Union." «The Clocktower», New York, exhibition "Diomedes". «De Tien van Fort Asperen», Leerdam, Netherlands, "Architecture and imagination." Amsterdam, "Soviet architecture: 1917- 1988". Competition Center «Jacob K. Javits ", New York," East meets West in the field of design. " 1989 Architectural Museum of Tacoma, Tacoma; I. C. . A, Boston; Art Center «Des Moines», USA: "Between Spring and Summer: Soviet Conceptual Art in the late communism." The MIT, Center for Visual Arts, the United States, "Paper Architecture: New projects of the Soviet Union." Art Museum «Jane Voorhees Zimmerli», Rutgers University, USA, "Intaglio 1980". Architectural Society, Brussels, "paper architecture." 1990 Gallery "Spectrum", of San Francisco, "Avakumov / Brodsky / Utkin: Conceptual Soviet architecture." Gallery "Irving", Sydney, "After perestroika." 1991 Gallery "by Ewing", University of Tennessee, Knoxville, USA, "Actual / Actual". 1992 city ​​art center Paradise, Paradise, USA. "From chaos to creation: Russian Art 1972 - 1992 he." 1993 Museum «De Saisset», Santa Clara University, USA, "The ideal landscapes: Artists from the former Soviet Union." Moscow Architectural Institute, Moscow, "paper architecture." 1994 «Wessel & Lieberman Books», Seattle, USA, "Romantic view". 1995 Art Museum of the University of Duke in the United States, "Russian conceptual art of the 1980s in the collection." «Ronald Feldman Fine Art», New - York, "Seclusion". «The X - Art Foundation», New York, "in favor of bright art" 1996 Tretyakov Gallery, Krymsky Val, Moscow, "Architecture and Design 97." Exhibition Center on Krasnopresnenskaya Embankment, Moscow, "Architecture and Construction". 1996 Tretyakov Gallery, Krymsky Val, Moscow, "Architecture and Design 97." 1997 Exhibition Hall Manege, Moscow, "Modern design." 1999 Moskomarkhitektura, Moscow, "Most of the XXI century." 2000 Venice Biennale, Venice, Russian Pavilion, "paradise Ruins" (with M. Filipov). 2001 "Russian project" SCHZE, Moscow, Museum of Unique Dolls. SELECTED REFERENCES Architecture de Papier d'URSS. Paris: 1988. Nostalgia of Culture. Contemporary Soviet Visionary Architecture. London: 1988. Papier Architektur - Neue Projecte aus der Sowjetunion. Frankfurt: 1989. Paper Architecture - New Projects from the Soviet Union. Cambridge: MIT, 1989. East meets West in Design: Archaeology of the Present. New York: 1989. Architectuur en Verbeelding. De Tien Van Fort Asperen: 1989. Between Spring and Summer: Soviet Conceptual Art in the Era of Late Communism. Tacoma Art Museum, Boston ICA: 1990. After Perestroika. Sydney: 1991. Brodsky and Utkin. New York, Princeton Architectural Press and Ronald Feldman Fine Arts: 1991. Palazzo Nero and other projects. Wellington: 1992. Boym, C. New Russian Design. New York: 1992 Brodsky & Utkin. Paper Architecture in the Real World. Portland: 1993. Metropolis and City Capitals: Italy, Russia, and the United States. Rome: 1993. Alexander Brodsky & Ilya Utkin, The Portal. The Netherlands: European Ceramic Work Centre, 1994. Paper Architecture. Moscow: 1994. 581 Architects in the World. Tokyo: 1995. Crosscurrents: Fifty-one World Architects. Contemporary Architects - Ideas and Works. Tokyo: 1996. N.Dushkina. Metamorphosis of antiquity in Moscow Syromyatnikov. Architectural Gazette, №4, 1996. I.Utkin. War or peace. Architectural Gazette, №3, 1998. I.Utkin. Monster hour. Project Russia: the annual report, №11, 1998. M. Naschokina. Architect house Utkin. Project Russia., 2004. Vladimir Sedov. The White house. Classic project., 2005. PUBLIC COLLECTIONS USA : Bayly Art Museum then, of University then Virginia You; Des Moines Art Centre; Duke University Museum of Art; Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston; Museum of Art, University of Arizona; Museum of Modern Art, New York; Portland Art Museum; San Diego Museum of Contemporary Art; San Diego University Art gallery; The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington ; Zealand the New : Wellington Art Gallery; Russia , Moscow State Museum of Fine Arts named after AS Pushkin; Bank "Capital".