Oleg Kulik
1961, Kyiv, Ukraine
Among the leading artists of post-Soviet Russia, Oleg Kulik has been producing edgy performances, sculptures, installations, and photographs since the mid-1990s.
Through his art, he comments on Russia and the West, politics and power, and humankind’s place in and relationship to nature.
Kulik began his career as a sculptor and curator at Moscow’s Regina Gallery, where he presented unconventional exhibitions. Describing his trajectory, he has said, “When I came to Moscow, I made glass sculptures—transparent figurative things—and nobody liked them. . . . Then I became a performer, created a huge scandal with my man-dog antics, got a show at Deitch Projects, and after that I felt the freedom to go on as an artist.”
In some of Kulik’s most controversial performances, he transformed himself into a dog to reveal deeply troubling truths about human nature.
LIST OF MUSEUMS&FOUNDATIONS
The State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow
The Russian Museum, Saint-Petersburg
Moscow Museum of Modern Art, Moscow
Moscow House of Photography Museum, Moscow
State Museum-Reserve Tsaritsyno, Moscow
National Center for Contemporary Arts, Moscow
Contemporary Art Museum ART4.RU, Moscow
Cultural Foundation «EKATERINA», Moscow
Social Discovery Ventures, Moscow
Tate Modern, London
Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris
S.M.A.K. (Stedelijk Museum voor Actuele Kunst), Gent
M HKA (Museum van Hedendaagse Kunst), Antwerp
National Museum of Montenegro, Cetinje
The Buhl Foundation, Pittsburgh
PinchukArtCentre , Kyiv
Oleg Kulik
1961 born in Kiev, Ukraine
1979 graduated from the Kiev Art School
1982 graduated from Kiev Geological Survey College
1988 moved to Moscow
1990 Pollock-Krasner Foundation fellowship
1990–1993 an art director and expositioner of the Regina Art Gallery, Moscow
1995–1996 Berlin Senate stipendium
2005 awarded with the medal “The Worthy” of the Russian Art Academy
2008 winner of the award for Curator’s project, III Annual Russian national award for contemporary visual arts Innovation 2007
2009 Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters, France
Lives and works in Moscow
Selected solo exhibitions
2019
Golden Fleece. KIBLA PORTAL, Maribor (09.08–07.09.2019)
Irresponsible Paintings. “GUM-Red-Line” Gallery, Moscow (28.06–04.08.2019)
Merry-Go-Round. Museum of Contemporary Art Vojvodina, Novi Sad (24.04–20.05.2019)
Sunlight. Galleria Pack, Milan (02.04–27.09.2019)
2018
- Symphonic media performance. Sevcabel port, Saint-Peterburg (12.10.2018)
Our Mother. Richter space, Moscow (07–12.09.2018)
2014
Oleg Kulik solo show. Léna&Roselli Galéria, Budapest (07.02–09.03.2014
2013
FRAMES, Regina Gallery, Moscow (09.04–10.06.2013)
2012
Deep into Russia, Regina Gallery, London (10.10 – 17.11.2012)
2011
Composition 911. Special project of 4 Moscow Biennale of Contemporary Art, Moscow. Multimedia Art Museum, Moscow, September
The Russian, Primadellabiennale, 18Diviasulis, Cagliari
Vespro della Beate Vergine, Based on the production of Claudio Monteverdi’s «Vespro della Beata Vergine» Film, Video Installation. Scuola Grande di San Rocco, Venice
Der Messias / Haendel (version Mozart). Direction, Set & Costume Design. Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris (March 14, 16, 17, 19, 20, 2011
2010
Deep into Russia. Galleria Pack, Milan (16.02–17.04.2010)
Oleg Kulik solo show at Art Market Budapest / Léna & Roselli Gallery
2009
Moscow. TSUM. Spatial Liturgy #3. TSUM, Moscow, September
Vespro della Beate Vergine, 1610 / Cl. Monteverdi. Direction, Costume Design & Lights. Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris, France (January 24, 25, 27, 28, 29, 2011)
2008
New Sermon. Photos and Videos of performances 1993–2003, Rabouan-Moussion Gallery, Paris
Museum of Nature, or New Paradise. Leonhard Ruethmueller Contemporary Art, Basel
Museum of Nature, or New Paradise, Gallery Mudimadrie, Antwer
2007
Oleg Kulik. Chronicle. 1987-2007. Retrospective exhibition, Central House of Artist, Moscow
Museum of Nature, or New Paradise, Nina Lumer Gallery, Milan
1997
Virtual Dog. M.Guelman Gallery, Moscow
I Bite America & America Bites Me (together with Mila Bredikhina). Deitch Projects, New York
1996
Evening of Kulik’s Memoirs. Center for Contemporary Art, TV Gallery, Moscow
1995
The Same. Enter Scotinin. XL Gallery, Moscow. Booklet
My Family, or Nature is Perfect. M. Guelman Gallery, Moscow. Booklet
End of History, or Kulik Visiting Emperors. XL Gallery, Moscow. Booklet
1994
I Love Gorby. M.Guelman Gallery, Moscow. Catalogue
1990
Untitled. Windows of the Design Center, Moscow
Selected group exhibitions
2020–2019
Dead and Alive. 9th Triennial of Contemporary Art U3, Moderna galerija / Museum of Modern Art (MG+), Ljubljana (10.10.2019–12.01.2020
2019
One Family. GUM, Moscow (13.04–28.05.2019)
2018
PressionSuPression. In the framework of the exhibition Heavenly Beings: Neither Human nor Animal, Museum of Contemporary Art Metelkova, +MSUM, Ljubljana (10.07–04.11.2018)
2017
Art Riot: Post-Soviet Actionism. Saatchi Gallery, London
Risk Change. In the framework of the MIG21 project, Museum of Contemporary Art Vojvodina, Novi Sad (27.10–19.10.2017
2016
Realisms marathon. State Hermitage. Saint Petersburg (June 10, 18pm – June 11, 6am)
Icons. Hå gamle prestegard, Nærbø (04.06.–28.08.2016)
Football – Hockey. Winzavod Center for Contemporary Art, Moscow (18.05–19.06.2016)
The Modern Art: 1960–2000. Restart. As part of the project “The Tretyakov Gallery opens its store” (15.04.2016–01. 09.2017)
Space Landing. Norilsk Art Gallery, Norilsk (08.04–22.05.2016)
Borsch and Champagne. Selected works from the collection of Vladimir Ovcharenko. Museum of Modern Art, Moscow (07.04–05.06.2016)
2000s. Collection of Ekaterina and Vladimir Semenikhin. Selected works. 2000 – 2005. Ekaterina Cultural Foundation, Moscow (29.01–31.07.2016)
2015–2016
Recycling Religion. WhiteBox, New York (12.12.2015-17.01.2016)
2015
Contemporary Art: Together or Nearby. Symposium. Central Exhibition Hall “Manezh”, Saint Petersburg (13.12.2015)
Recycling Religion. Satellite Art Fair, Miami (01.12-06.12.2015)
90s. Art Gallery, Yeltsin Center, Yekaterinburg (26.11.2015–27.03.2016)
Houses and Windows (with Milija Pavićević). Cultural Alliance. Marat Guelman’s project, Moscow (29.10 – 03.11.2015)
Burning Man. Black Rock Desert, Nevada (30.08–07.09.2015)
All of its. Leningrad Center, Saint Petersburg (20.03– 10.05.2015)
The art of being right here. Exhibition and charity auction. Museum of Modern Art, Moscow (05.03–05.04.2015)
Grammar of Freedom / Five Lessons: Works from the Arteast 2000+ Collection. Garage Museum of Contemporary Art, Moscow (06.02–19.04.2015)
Pussy Riot and the Cossacks. Institut Supérieur des Beaux Arts de Besançon/Franche-Comté. Besançon. (30.01–20.02.2015)
2014–2015
Surgery: Birth, Love, Meetings, Interests, Wishes. Ekaterina Cultural Foundation, Moscow (17.12.2014–15.02.2015)
Post Pop: East meets West. Saatchi Gallery, London. (26.11.2014 – 03.03.2015)
2014
Russian Performance: A Cartography of its History. Garage Museum of Contemporary Art, Moscow (17.10–05.12.2014)
Precious Framing. Painting and Its Frame. Dialogues. The State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow (10.09–30.11.2014)
In Search of the Horizon. Latvian Railway History Museum, Riga (22.05–20.07.2014)
FRICTION International Performance Festival. House of Peace, Uppsala Castle, Uppsala (14–17.05.2014)
GELITIN. DIE TUSOVKA RUNDE. Solyanka State Gallery, Moscow (12.05–27.07.2014)
do it Moscow. Garage Museum of Contemporary Art, Moscow (01.05–06.07.2014)
(14.02–06.04.2014)
Personal Choice: Collectors’ selections from their own collections. Garage Museum of Contemporary Art, Moscow (14.02–06.04.2014)
Transition and Transition. Josip Vaništa, Oleg Kulik, Blue Noses. Ludwig Museum – Museum Of Contemporary Art, Budapest (07.02–09.03.2014)
Reconstruction. Part II. Ekaterina Cultural Foundation, Moscow (24.01–23.03.2014)
2013
The Team I Can’t Live Without. Regina Gallery, Moscow (08.11–06.12.2013)
Artist in Society, Rabouan Moussion Gallery, Paris (7–28.09.2013)
Reconstruction. Part I. Ekaterina Cultural Foundation, Moscow (18.09 –24,11.2013)
Lost in Translation. Collateral Event of the 55th International Art Exhibition, Venice Biennale, Ca’ Foscari Esposizioni, Venice (29.05–15.09.2013)
2012 –2013
FLUIDENTITETI. Podgorica Collection for the Ars Aevi Museum. Art Gallery of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo (22.12.2012–5.01.2013)
2012
In complete disorder. Russian contemporary art. Kandinsky Prize 2007–2012. Arts Santa Monica, Barcelona
La Peau de l’Ours. Rabouan Moussion Gallery, Paris (16.06 – 31.07)
The Best of Times, the Worst of Times – Rebirth and Apocalypse in Contemporary Art. ARSENALE 2012 / 1st Kyiv International Biennale of Contemporary Art. Arsenale, Kyiv
2011–2012
Surreal Versus Surrealism in Contemporary Art. IVAM, Valencia, Spain (06.10.2011–08.01.2012)
Russian Turbulence. Charles Riva Collection. Brussels (09.12.2011–03.03.2012)
2011
33 Fragments of Russian Performance. Garage Center for Contemporary Culture, Moscow (02.11-23.11.2011)
Art Market Budapest, Léna & Roselli Galéria booth, Budapest (27–30.10.2011)
GLASSTRESS 2011, Collateral Event of the 54th International Art Exhibition, Venice Biennale. Istituto Veneto di Scienze Lettere ed Arti – Palazzo Cavalli Franchetti; Berengo Centre for Contemporary Art and Glass;
Wake Forest University, Casa Artom, Venice
ARCO, Madrid (XL Gallery booth)
Art Paris, Paris (Rabouan Moussion Gallery booth)
Arte Fiera, Bologna (Pack Gallery booth)
2010
Alla Gloria Militar, Aircraft Gallery, Bratislava (06.05–15.09.2010)
The Origin of Darwin. State Darwin Museum, Moscow (09.03–18.04.2010)
Doors open day. A mansion – a gymnasium – a clinic – a museum. Moscow Museum of Modern Art, Moscow
Always Other Art. Selected works from the collection of Viktor Bondarenko. Moscow Museum of Modern Art, Moscow
Crossing Frontiers – The Artistic Search for the Identity in the Eastern Europe. City Gallery Prague, Prague
2009
Common History and Its Private Stories, Museum auf Abruf (MUSA), Wien
Video Art in Russia, Nina Lumer Gallery, Milan
I was Russia, Dunedin Public Art Gallery, Dunedin
Europe XXL, Lille3000, Lille
Omne Animal. Moscow Zoo. Exhibition Hall, Moscow (26.09. 2009–11.10.2009)
Persona. Image. Time. Human Representation in Art: from Modernism to the Present-day. Ekaterina Cultural Foundation, Moscow (18.09–13.12.2009)
History of Russian Video Art. Volume 2, Moscow Museum of Modern Art, Moscow
2008
Loss of Control, Marta Herford Museum, Herford
Altars of the Avant-gard, Gallery of Klovićevi dvori, Zagreb
My favourite Pastime, Neuer Berliner Kunstverein, Berlin
Streetwise, Reina Sofia Museum, Madrid
Friction and Conflict, Kalmar Konstmuseum, Kalmar
Intolerance, Fondazione Ravello, Ravello
Russia-2. Special project of the 1st Moscow international biennale of contemporary art. Central House of Artist, Moscow. Catalogue
STARZ. Special project of the 1st Moscow international biennale of contemporary art. Moscow Museum of Contemporary Art. Catalogue
Accomplices. Collective and Interactive Art Works in Russian Art of 1960-2000’s. Special project of the 1st Moscow international biennale of contemporary art. The State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow. Catalogue
Always a Little Further. Main exhibition of the 51th Biennale di Venezia. Arsenale, Venice. Catalogue
Russian Pop-Art. The State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow. Booklet
Angels of History, Museum van Hedendaagse Kunst, Antwerp. Catalogue
FIAC, Gallerie Rabouan-Moussion booth, Paris
Moscow Breakthrough. Bargehouse, London; Wapping Hydraulic Power Station, London (4–30.11.2005)
Berlin-Moskau. Martin Gropius Bau, Berlin – The State Historical Museum, Moscow. Catalogue
L’Autre moitie de l’Europe. Galerie nationale du Jeu de Paume, Paris. Catalogue
Performing Bodies. Tate Modern, London
47th Internationale Kurzfilmtage Oberhausen. Oberhausen
After the Wall. Art and Culture in post-Communist Europe. Moderna Museet, Stockholm – Hamburger Bahnhoff, Berlin – Ludwig Museum, Budapest. Catalogue
Le Fou dedoublé. L`idiotie comme strategie contemporain. Central House of Artist, Moscow – Regional Art Museum, Samara – Central exhibition hall, Nizhny Novgorod – Museum of Fine Arts, Ekaterinburg – Château d’Orion, Orion, France. Catalogue
Zeitwenden. Kunstmuseum, Bonn. Catalogue
Performances
2019
What is capitalism? Art Market Budapest, Inside Art program, Budapest (02.10.2019, 18h)
Golden Fleece, Fast molding. KIBLA PORTAL, Maribor (22.07.2019)
Idol, Fast molding. “GUM-Red-Line” Gallery, Moscow (22.06.2019)
Merry-Go-Round, Fast molding. Museum of Contemporary Art Vojvodina, Novi Sad (23.04.2019)
Parliament-2, Fast molding. “GUM-Red-Line” Gallery, Moscow (14.04.2019)
2018
PressionSuPression. In the framework of the exhibition Heavenly Beings: Neither Human nor Animal (10.07— 04.11.2018), Museum of Contemporary Art Metelkova, +MSUM, Ljubljana (24.08.2018)
2017
Migration: Fountain. Risk Change exhibition (27.10–19.10.2017). In the framework of the MIG21 project, Museum of Contemporary Art Vojvodina, Novi Sad (27.10.2017)
2015
Rigorous Proof of an External World (together with Dmitry Volkov), in the framework of All of its exhibition. Leningrad Center, Saint Petersburg. (20.03.2015
2013
The Red Gratitude, K.Suns, Riga, 10.10.2013
Aspiration (together with Hermes Zygott), in the framework of Lost in Translation exhibition, Collateral Event of the 55th International Art Exhibition – Venice Biennale, Ca’ Foscari Esposizioni. Venice, 30.05.201
2012
Missionary, Regina Gallery, London, October 9
2008
Mudrā (together with Den Kryuchkov and Hermes Zygott). Marta Herford Museum, Herford. November
2003
Armadillo For Your Show (during the opening of the exhibition “Live Culture”). Tate Modern, London. March 27
Hot Ten (in the framework of the Festival of Contemporary Art “ARTKliazma”). Moscow region, territory of “Kliazminskoje vodokhranilische” Pension. August
2001
Two Kuliks. Ikon Gallery, Birmingham. May 17
Two Kuliks (in the framework of the 1st Valencia Biennale). Las Reales Atarazanas, Valencia. June 10
2000
Pigeonloft. Zamek Ujezdowski, Warsaw. January 25
O, Montenegro! (in the framework of the Festival of International Alternative Theatre (FIAT’2000). Sea Shore, Budva (Montenegro). July 11
Kuliks (in the framework of the exhibition “After the Wall. Art and Culture in post-Communist Europe”). Hamburger Bahnhof, Berlin. September 23
Kuliks (in the framework of the exhibition “Nordic, Baltic and Russian photography”). Finnish Museum of Photography (Cable Factory), Helsinki. November 11
1999
White Man, Black Dog. Museum of Contemporary Art, Zagreb. June 17
Kuliks (in the framework of the exhibition “After the Wall. Art and Culture in post-Communist Europe”). Moderna Museet, Stockholm. October 16
Minotaurus is You! (during the opening of the show “Zeitwenden”). Kunstmuseum, Bonn. December 26
1998
Two Kuliks (in the framework of the Festival of International Alternative Theatre (FIAT’98). City Theater Podgorica (former Yugoslavia). May 9
Armadillo For Your Show. “Factoria” club, Kiev. June12
Bloody Auction. Saint Nazaire (France), FRAC des pays de la Loire. August
White Man, Black Dog. Galerija Kapelica, Ljubljana. October 7
Two Kuliks. La Cucaracha restaurant, Riga. November 4
Kuliks. Ecole de Beaux Art, Paris. November 17
1997
Two Kuliks (Kulik Will Peck Up the Kulik’s Eye). M. Guelman Gallery, Moscow. February 12
I Bite America and America Bites Me (together with Mila Bredikhina). Deitch Projects, New York. April 12-26
Fourth Dimension (together with Mila Bredikhina; in the framework of the exhibition “It’s a Better World. Russischer Aktionismus und sein Kontext”). Wiener Secession, Vienna. June 6
The Prophetic Piece. Centro d’arte contemporanea Serre Di Rapolano, Siena. June 24
Kulik Against Koras (in the framework of the project of Soros Center for Contempotatry Art “Art Discourse-97”). City Market, Almaty (Kazakhstan). September 1
Two Kuliks. Palazzo Esplanade, Merano. October 14
1996
Police Dog. “Rosentol” night club, Moscow. February 20
Dog House (in the framework of the exhibition “Interpol”). Fargfabriken, Stockholm. March 2
The Body Speaks Louder Then Words! Museum of the Revolution, Moscow. April 9
Suspended. Kunstlerhaus Bethanien, Berlin. May 23
Pavlov’s Dog (together with Mila Bredikhina; in the framework of biennale “Manifesta I”). V-2, Rotterdam. June 5-25
I Love Europe. It does not Love Me Back. Kunstlerhaus Bethanien, Berlin. September 1
I Cannot Keep Silence Any More! (with support of the Centre d’art contemporain “La Faubour”). Strasbourg, in front of the European Council. September 20
My Place in the Art. Neue Berliner Kunstverein, Berlin. October 16
Armadillo For Your Show (in the framework of the exhibition “De Rode Poort”). Stedelijk Museum voor Actuele Kunst, Gent. November 9
1995
Reservoir Dog (during the opening of the show “Signs and Wonder. Niko Pirosmani and Contemporary Art”). Kunsthaus, Zurich. March 30
Alter Aegis / Bifurcation (together with Alexey Tabashov). Courtyard of the Center for Contemporary Art, Moscow. June 20
I Am a Beast Now (in the framework of the project “Turnkey Party”). Polytechnical Museum, Moscow. June 27
Political Look of a Man (in the framework of the demonstration “Animals Against Brutality”). Tverskaya street, Moscow. July 16
Zoocentrism Experiments. Moscow Zoo. July 23
Kulik Is a Bird in Fact. Gallery 21, Saint Petersburg. September 22
Missionary. Dedicated to Francis of Assisi (in the framework of the project “Art Belongs to People-II”). Peschanaya street, Moscow. October 27
Russian Safari (in the framework of a program “Election Race” organized by M.Guelman Gallery). Moscow, vacant lot in Vladykino district. December 15
Kulik is Your Deputy. “Pilot” night club, Moscow. December 25
1994
Meet My Boyfriend Charley. Regina Gallery, Moscow. May 1
The New Sermon. Danilov market, Moscow. September 15
Freedom of Choice. Patriarch’s Ponds, Moscow. October 23
The Mad Dog, or Last Taboo Guarded by Alone Cerberus (together with Alexander Brener). Bolshaya Yakimanka street in front of the M. Guelman Gallery, Moscow. November 23
1993
Deep into Russia. Village of Dubrovky, Tver’ region. July 16
Expositional projects
2012
1990-s: The Victory And The Defeat. The Territory 2012 Festival/School, Theatre of Nations, Moscow
Apocalypse and Rebirth in Chocolate House, Parallel Program of The First Kyiv International Biennale of Contemporary Art ARSENALE 2012, Kyiv, Chocolate House, Kyiv National Museum of Russian Art. (15.05–14.06
2011–2010
And Water Flows Beneath the Ice. North Korean Contemporary Art. Winzavod Center for Contemporary Art, Moscow (17.12.2010–30.01.2011)
2010
ARCHSTOYANIE 2010. SUMMER. Forest liturgy “Nine Keys of labyrinth”. Landscape Projects Festival,
Nikolo-Lenivets village
2009
Kandinsky Prize Exhibition. Louise Blouin Foundation, London, 16.10–11.12.2009
2007
I Believe, Winzavod Center for Contemporary Art, Moscow, 2401–31.03.2007
llery, Moscow. September 11–October 11
Traditions of Russian Paintings. Museum of the Moscow History, Moscow. November 1–30
Mad dog or last taboo I
1994
Black & White photo
60 x 90 cm
Mad dog or last taboo II
1994
Black & white photo
60 x 90 cm
Windows – gorilla
2000
C-print
90 x 112 cm
Windows – sea lion
2000
C-print
90 x 195 cm
New sermon
2000
C-print
170 x 120 cm