NEW YORKER / Diversity United - Art Guide Moscow 22.11.21 – 13.03.22

ART 

FASHION

— Christian Boltanski 

90 artists. 

34 countries. 

1 continent in dialogue. 

That is Diversity United! 

Diversity United is an artistic atmospheric image of contemporary Europe. 

The international exhibition brings together painting, sculpture, 

video and new media, photography, installation, drawing and object 

art by around 90 artists from 34 countries, representing different 

generations, genders and regions. Their works represent the enormous 

diversity and vitality of Europe‘s contemporary art scene, from 

Portugal to Russia, from Norway to Turkey. The exhibition sheds light 

on themes such as freedom and democracy, migration and territory, 

political and personal identity, utopias and fears, which also revolve 

around the current pandemic. 

Diversity United reflects the complexity of the European idea and its 

social realities in a globalized world. 

NEW YORKER‘s commitment once again demonstrates its close ties 

to the field of art and hereby underpins its already successful collaborations 

with the artist Jim Avignon and the art collective KLUB7.

elcome! 

Diversity United 

Exhibition Facts 

Address: 

New Tretyakov Gallery Krymsky Val, 10, Moskva, Russia, 119049 

Opening Hours: 

Sun/Thu/Wed 10 am - 6 pm | Mon closed | Thu-Sat 10 am - 9 pm 

Opening hours may vary on Christmas and New Year holidays. 

Tickets: 

Bookable at www.diversity-united.com 

Imprint: 

NEW YORKER Marketing & Media International GmbH 

Hansestrasse 48 

38112 Brunswick 

Germany 

Editorial: 

Diversity United (art contributions), 

NEW YORKER Music & Media (Interview, Moscow Facts, Gastro and Music) 

Graphics: NEW YORKER, Andreas Bohn 

© VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2021 for the works illustrated; 

Photo credits Installation views: Julia Zaharova / Tretyakov gallery

Prof. Walter Smerling is the founding 

director of the MKM Museum 

Küppersmühle for Modern Art in 

Duisburg and chairman of the Bonn 

Foundation for Art and Culture, 

which is responsible for the overall 

organization of „Diversity United“ at 

all three exhibition venues. 

large blocks that look like stone 

blocks, but made of plastic. They can 

be used to build an amphitheater, for 

example. And questions arise: How 

does democracy work? Is it the best 

form of government we have? What 

is the current situation in Europe with 

its particular interests? Is there more 

egomania now than before? How do 

we deal with digitalization? Some 

artists create works that the public 

can find digitally on the wall. Or the 

juxtaposition of analog and digital 

now, during the crisis, the question of 

the value of art and culture in society 

is becoming increasingly important. 

Is art systemically relevant? 

For me, art and culture are very relevant 

elements of our lives. Art mirrors 

us. We have to be attentive and 

engaged with it. A healthy body also 

needs a healthy mind. Many things, 

such as the fashion industry, for example, 

would not have developed as 

they have without artistic influence. 

Art is essential for our everyday life. 

Prof. Walter Smerling 

in conversation about 

Diversity United: 

When did you come up with the 

idea for „Diversity United“ and 

what is it about the three locations 

Moscow, Berlin and Paris? 

With the Foundation for Art and 

Culture, we had just held the exhibition 

„Germany 8 - German Art in 

China“ in the Forbidden City in the 

center of Beijing. At that moment 

I had the thought: whats happening 

here should also be possible in 

Europe. We showed the German face 

of art in China, at a time when there 

were many challenges in common 

understanding in other areas. And as 

we have seen: Art can build bridges. 

Quickly, in terms of Europe, the 

idea of unity and diversity was born, 

„Diversity United.“ And with Moscow, 

Berlin and Paris, three places were 

chosen that are relevant both today 

and from a historical perspective. 

The exhibition themes seem 

very complex: freedom and dignity, 

dialogue and conflict, political 

and personal identity, democracy 

and its erosion, (fear of) the 

future, solidarity and division, the 

consequences of the current pandemic. 

To what extent are these 

themes reflected in the selection 

of artists? 

In our selection process, we carefully 

analyzed the artists‘ work and were 

able to see the correspondence to 

our themes in those that we included 

in the exhibition. For example, how 

Gilbert & George deal with everyday 

life, or others with the theme of 

democracy. The Greek artist Angeli 

Dakis, for example, creates a space 

that the audience or the visitor can 

shape themselves. It consists of 

Photo: David Ausserhofer 

photography. The digital world also 

creates many fears and communication 

problems, and the issues of our 

society are reflected in art, whether 

in Western, Eastern, Northern, Central 

or Southern Europe. 

How do you explain what art is to 

those who are not part of the typical 

audience? 

Art is a form of expression that 

brings together intellect and emotion, 

it creates something that grabs 

you. Everyone carries creativity within 

them. A good example to explain 

art is the Mona Lisa‘s smile. Why? 

Because you will never know if it expresses 

laughter or irony. Especially 

What comes to mind instantly 

when thinking about fashion and 

art? 

There is a close relationship. As early 

as the 1970s, fashion designer Yves 

Saint Laurent was inspired by art 

for his designs, specifically by Piet 

Mondrian and his constructive color 

elements with black strokes to colored 

squares. Before a structure is 

created, the drawing usually comes 

first. This is where artists and fashion 

designers have a lot in common in 

creating a piece of art or a dress. The 

most direct path from the head to the 

paper is via the arm.

Kremlin secret 

The Kremlin is the seat of the 

Russian president and, with its 

more than two-kilometer-long 

red brick wall, probably the city‘s 

best-known landmark. But this was 

not always the case: the medieval 

fortress, which has been a UNESCO 

World Heritage Site since 1990, only 

acquired its red color at the end of 

the 19th century. For around 300 

years, the walls and towers were 

painted white. 

False Moscow 

Even if the name suggests 

otherwise, the Moscow Mule 

originated in the United States 

in the early 1940s, but it is 

closely linked to the Smirnoff 

distillery founded in Moscow 

at the end of the 19th century, 

whose „Smirnoff Vodka“ was 

soon to be made known in 

North America. 

Soaring high 

At 540 meters, the Ostankino 

TV tower in the north of Moscow 

is the tallest structure in 

Europe - since its opening in 

1967, it was even the tallest 

free-standing structure in the 

world until 1975. The integrated 

revolving restaurant „Seventh 

Heaven“ provides spectacular 

views over Moscow. 

Go big! 

Moscow‘s official population is 

12.7 million (01/2021) – as large 

as Finland and Denmark combined! 

In Gorky Park alone, a 

green oasis in the middle of the 

big city, up to 100,000 people 

usually gather on a weekend day. 

Clever dogs 

The Moscow Metro is used by up 

to nine million passengers every 

day and is one of the world‘s largest. 

But it‘s not just people who 

use this convenient way of getting 

from A to B: Moscow‘s street dogs 

have also adapted to the traffic. 

In search of food, the animals not 

only obey traffic rules to avoid 

being run over on the road, but 

even ride the subway! They 

have learned to recognize the 

stops from the loudspeaker announcements 

and even hop on 

a seat for a nap. In the evening, 

some dogs even ride back to 

the suburbs. 

The exhibition location: 

The State Tretyakov Gallery 

The museum, which houses one 

of Russia‘s largest and most 

famous art collections, takes its 

name from textile merchant and 

art collector Pavel Mikhailovich 

Tretyakov, who throughout his 

life not only built up a considerable 

collection of mainly contemporary 

Russian artwork, but also, 

together with his younger brother 

Sergei, constructed the premises 

in which the works found their 

place. In 1892, Pavel Tretyakov 

donated his collection and that of 

his late brother to the city of Moscow. 

At that time, the collection 

included almost 2,000 works of 

art. Today, the collection includes 

more than 180,000 works of art 

distributed among three sites: the 

Tretyakov Gallery, the New Tretyakov 

Gallery, and in the studios 

and apartments of the exhibiting 

artists.

We introduce some 

of the participating artists: 

Eija-Liisa Ahtila, Andreas Angelidakis, Michael Armitage, Yael Bartana, 

Georg Baselitz, Bluesoup, Christian Boltanski, Monica Bonvicini, 

Sonia Boyce, Pavel Br•ila, Maurizio Cattelan, Olga Chernysheva, 

Tacita Dean,Rineke Dijkstra, Aleksandra Domanovi•, Constant 

Dullaart, OlafurEliasson, Kristaps Epners, Valérie Favre, Pia Fries, 

Adrian Ghenie,Gilbert & George, Antony Gormley, Manuel Graf, Ane 

Graff, Petrit Halilaj, Mona Hatoum, Sheila Hicks, Sanja Ivekovi•, Isaac 

Julien,Ilya & Emilia Kabakov, Patricia Kaersenhout, •ejla Kameri•, 

Anselm Kiefer, Kapwani Kiwanga, Peter Kogler, Irina Korina, Eva 

Kot’átková, Alicja Kwade, Kris Lemsalu, Cristina Lucas, Goshka 

Macuga, Kris Martin, Dóra Maurer, Annette Messager, Marzia Migliora, 

Boris Mikhailov, Richard Mosse, Ekaterina Muromtseva, Henrike 

Naumann, Mariele Neudecker, Katja Novitskova, Ahmet Ö••üt, 

Roman Ondak, Lucy + Jorge Orta, Dan Perjovschi, Grayson Perry, 

Anders Petersen, Agnieszka Polska, Tal R, Paula Rego, Gerhard 

Richter, Ugo Rondinone, Adam Saks, Anri Sala, Fernando Sánchez 

Castillo, Tristan Schulze, Yinka Shonibare CBE, Katharina Sieverding, 

Slavs and Tatars, Nedko Solakov, Jan Svenungsson, Wolfgang 

Tillmans,Rosemarie Trockel, Tatiana Trouvé, Luc Tuymans, Martina 

Vacheva,Ulla von Brandenburg, Marko Vuokola, Rachel Whiteread, 

Per Wizén, Erwin Wurm, Cerith Wyn Evans, Nil Yalter, Yan Pei-Ming 

© Lucy + Jorge Orta and VG Bild-Kunst Bonn, Photo: Thierry BalLucy and Jorge Orta: 

Antarctic Village 

The artist duo Lucy and Jorge Orta have been working for many years 

with sculpture and photography, as well as interventions in public 

spaces. Antarctica is characterized by its natural, well-preserved 

landscape and its political neutrality - thanks to the Antarctic Treaty, 

which came into force in 1961 to regulate international relations for 

the protection of the Antarctic environment. For Lucy and Jorge Orta, 

Antarctica is a utopia for which they have made several pieces such 

as tents, passports and a passport office. They have created an imaginary 

community from all over the world, without national borders. 

To become a citizen of Antarctica, one must support social progress, 

protect the environment and human dignity, and fight for freedom, 

justice and peace.

Maurizio Cattelan 

Maurizio Cattelan is a „disciple in the spirit“ of Marcel Duchamp. 

His sculptures and installations have earned him a reputation as a 

provocateur and master of black humor. But just how much seriousness 

is hidden behind his seemingly ironic approach is shown in the 

black-and-white photograph Cesena 47 - A.C. Forniture Sud 12, which 

depicts an oversized soccer table with two teams standing at its 

sides, carefully separated into two clubs, two skin colors, two jersey 

colors. Cattelan confronts the holy of holies of the Italians - soccer 

- with two socially sensitive issues that are still (the work dates from 

1991) of pan-European importance: Immigration and Racism. Cattelan 

brings both themes into everyday life and stages them as a game that, 

in its exaggeration, literally as a stretch, tips almost mockingly into 

the ridiculous. Everything is neatly separated - but the joy the players 

experience creates common ground. 

Maurizio Cattelan, Cesena 47-A.C. Forniture Sud 12A.C., 1991, Black and white photograph, 120 x 190 cm, Private collection, 

© Maurizio Cattelan, photo: courtesy of Maurizio Cattelan archive 

Photo: Diversity United / Text: Peter Weibel 

Alicja Kwade 

Sculpture of the 20th century developed between the two poles of 

space and utilitarian object. The bed sculpture of Alicja Kwade is exactly 

in this bracket: on the one hand a bed for use‘ on the other hand 

above it an empty space. The jammed natural stones seem threatening, 

because they could fall. The bed as furniture is part of a room, the 

room part of a house. Pars pro toto, therefore, the bed stands for the 

house. From the Greek word for house (community), „oikos“, derive 

the terms „ecology“ and „economy“. The installation impressively 

visualizes the instability and fragility of the ‚house‘ of the world and, 

above all, the ecological and economic crisis in which planet Earth 

finds itself. Who comes to rest in this threatened bed? Is it the sickbed 

for planet earth? Kwade‘s sculpture, with its linguistic and conceptual 

techniques of displacement and condensation, of metaphor and metonymy, 

opens up a horizon of thought‘ that very precisely illustrates 

the instantaneous world situation.

Shiela Hicks, LIBERATING REALITY,2020, acrylic, wood, linen, each -100 cm, total dimension 

variable,© Sheila Hicks and VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2020.Photo: Christobal Zanartu 

Sheila Hicks 

Sheila Hicks is an American textile artist. She was a student of Josef 

Albers at Yale University in the 1950s; at this time she also met Anni 

Albers and George Kubler, who was a professor of the history of Hispanic 

American art. Their shared influence and a trip to South America 

in the late 1950s led Hicks to her rigorous and beautiful sense 

of color and abstraction in textile art. During this time, she studied 

pre-Columbian textiles for her thesis and became a teacher of color 

and design at the University of Mexico. After working with architects 

in Mexico and at a time when the art world‘s attention was mainly 

focused on the United States, she moved to France in 1964. The 

history of abstraction in Europe has subsequently been influenced 

by her work, particularly in its fusion of textile and sculpture, from the 

small to the monumental, and in its stimulation of new interpretations 

of Bauhaus teachings. Sheila Hicks‘ work also helped redraw the line 

between art and craft. 

Gerhard Richter 

Gerhard Richter takes us on a personal journey through Europe, 

to places and people that he assembles into an encyclopedia of 

fleeting moments. He stages the dialogue between painting and 

photography like no other, commenting since the 1960s on the 

central questions of image and simulacrum, creation and reproduction. 

Photography,“ Richter argues, „has almost no reality; it 

is almost 100 percent image. And painting always has reality: you 

can touch the paint - it has presence; but it always makes a picture.“ 

For Diversity United, he has selected a small-format series 

of his famous overpaintings: personal photographs that he has 

subsequently reworked with paint. The original motif remains allusive 

and recognizable, but the applied paint has its own reality. 

Richter shows us the world and withdraws it from us again in the 

same moment. The painting conceals parts of the image and at 

the same time sharpens the eye for new perspectives. 

Private Collection, © Gerhard Richter

Moscow Guide 

Depo Moscow 

FoodMall 

Lesnaya Ulitsa, 20, 

125047 Moscow 

Noor Elektro 

23/12 Twerskaja 

Ulitsa, 103050 

Moscow 

NEW YORKER 

Moscow SC AFI M 

Presnenshaya 

Naberezhnanya Str.2 


I Love Cake 

Bol‘shoy Patriarshiy 

Pereulok, 4, 

123001 Moscow Remy Kitchen 

Bakery 

Malaya Bronnaya St, 

2, 123104 Moscow 

Black Star Burger 

New Arbat Ave, 

15/1, 119002 

Moscow 

Surf Coffee 

Myasnitskaya 

Ulitsa, 16, 


Flâner 

Krivokolennyy 

Pereulok, 7, 


NEW YORKER 

Moscow, SC GOROD 

Chaussee 

Entusiastov 12-2 


Further NEW YORKER stores: 

REUTOV SC, 2 km MKAD 2, 143960 Reutov Moscow 

Moscow.SC TSCHE, B.Tscheremuschkinskaja Str., 1, 117447 Moscow 

Moscow, SC AVIA, Khodynskij Bulvar 4, SC Avia Park, 123007 Moscow 

Moscow,IKEA MEG, Kotelniki Pokorovskiy r-n, 140055 Moscow 

Moscow, SC SALA, Kievskoe Shossee, SC Salaris, 142784 Moscow 

Moscow,ROSTOKIN, Prospekt Mira 211, 129226 Moscow 

Moscow, SC, 24 km MKAD, SC Vegas Mall, 115820 Moscow 

Moscow, RIO GRAN, Dmitrovskje Chaussee163a, 127204 Moscow 

Diversity United 

New Tretyakov Gallery 

Krymsky Val, 10, 

119049 Moscow

The Russian capital is rich in culinary highlights. 

Away from the top restaurants, a young and 

creative scene has established itself, with diverse 

international influences. Here we show 

you hip locations that wont put too much strain 

on your budget. 

Great choice in the 

Depo Moscow FoodMall 

The culinary paradise in a former 

streetcar depot is considered Europe’s 

largest food mall. Depo Moscow 

in the Russian capital counts 

75 restaurants and 60 market stalls. 

Since opening in spring 2019, the 

food hall has become a hot spot for 

all foodies; many young people and 

creative people go here to eat. 

Depo Moscow FoodMall 

Lesnaya Ulitsa, 20 стр.3, 


www.depomoscow.ru 

Mon.-Thu. & Sun. 

10:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. 

Fri./Sat. 10:00 - 2:00 a.m. 

Photos: Depo Moscow

The name says it all: 

I Love Cake 

If you love cupcakes, you’ve 

come to the right place. I Love 

Cake is a true paradise for those 

with a sweet tooth. The large 

display case really whets your 

appetite: brownies, cakes in 

different variations and toppings 

- it’s really hard to choose! 

And the coffee to go with it is 

also a dream and really hard to 

find in Moscow. 

I Love Cake 

Bol’shoy Patriarshiy Pereulok, 4, 


www.friends-forever.ru 

Monday - Sunday: 8:00 - 23:00 

Freshly baked in Remy Kitchen Bakery 

This is no ordinary bakery, but a restaurant with a bakery and pastry 

shop. The restaurant has international dishes on the menu, many of 

which are prepared over a fire grill. The highlight is the bakery, which 

has its own menu and offers fresh goods baked on site, including 

takeaway - such as fluffy French croissants, berry tarts or several 

varieties of natural sourdough bread. 

Remy Kitchen Bakery 

Malaya Bronnaya St., 2, 123104 Moscow 

www.remykitchenbakery.ru 

Monday - Sunday: 8:00 - 0:00 

Photos: Remy Kitchen Bakery, I love Cake

Burgers straight from the rap star at Black Star Burger 

Something different than the usual burger stores? At Black Star 

Burger there are not only delicious burgers in different variations 

and in the top price / performance ratio. The ambience is also very 

cool and classy for a burger joint; even your food is served with black 

gloves. Behind the chain is, among others, the Russian hip hop 

star Timati. 

Black Star Burger 

various locations, including New Arbat Ave, 15/1, 119002 Moscow 

www.blackstarburger.ru 

Monday - Sunday: 11:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. 

Photos: Black Star Burger, Noor Elektro 

For a cocktail to Noor Electro 

Noor Electro is a hip cocktail bar located in the same building as the 

avant-garde electro theater. Everyone is welcome in the cozy bar 

and the cocktail selection is unique. In addition, live music shows are 

often held on weekends, often featuring local newcomers, but also 

international acts. 

Photos: Black Star Burger, Noor Elektro 

Noor Electro 

23/12 Tverskaya Ulitsa, 

Mayakovskaya Metro. 

www.noorbar.com 

Monday - Thursday: 15:00 - 3:00 

Friday/Saturday: 11:00 - 6:00 

Sunday: 11:00 - 3:00

More than just coffee: Surf Coffee 

The creators of the Surf Coffee chain love their coffee and surfing. 

Combining these two passions has created one of the hottest coffee 

house chains in the entire country. They serve great coffee, plus signature 

drinks like double Hawaiian cappuccino. The walls are decorated 

with surfboards and other stylish accessories. 

Surf Coffee 

various locations, e.g. Myasnitskaya Ulitsa, 16, 101000 Moscow 

www.surfcoffee.ru 

Mon.-Fri. 08:00 - 23:00, 

Sat./Sun. 10:00 - 23:00 hrs. 

Israeli fusion cuisine at Flâner 

Like music, cooking is an art that makes people happy. At Flâner, both 

come together in a gastronomic concept that invites you on a culinary 

journey to Israel. The flâneur atmosphere, like a stroll through Tel Aviv 

with its Arabic, Persian, Palestinian or North African-inspired cuisine, 

is also reflected in the varied menu. And in addition, you can enjoy 

good cocktails in the original interior design! 

Flâner 

Krivokolenny Pereulok, 7, 101000 Moscow 

www.flanermoscow.ru 

Mon.-Fri.: 09.00 - 00.00 hrs. 

Sat./Sun.: 10.00 - 00.00 a.m. 

Photos: instagram.com/flaner.moscow

Russia has a thriving young music scene. After 

pop music was the most popular genre for a 

long time, hip hop and independent are now the 

styles of the hour. Thanks to YouTube, TikTok or 

Spotify, musicians also reach a wide audience 

at home and abroad. 

Little Big 

The Russian punk-pop-rave collective from St. Petersburg has a penchant 

for the absurd and for self-mockery. Late with the „Skibidi Challenge“ 

Little Big have also reached worldwide fame, the dance from the YouTube 

video, which has reached over 550 million views to date, became a widespread 

phenomenon in Russia. Originally, Little Big was supposed to compete 

for Russia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 with the song „Uno“, 

but it was cancelled due to the coronavirus. Currently, the four exceptional 

artists are collaborating with US singer/songwriter Oliver Tree and Estonian 

rapper Tommy Cash on their joint chart success „Turn It Up“. 

Boulevard Depo 

He is one of the big names of the 

year in Russian rap. His last album 

„Old Blood“ was at the top of the 

Apple Music album charts for 

weeks. Artem Kulik, his real name, 

comes from the graffiti scene of 

his native Ufa and was one of the 

founders of the rap collective „Yungrussia,“ 

which disbanded at the 

end of 2016. However, by that time 

all the members, including Pharaoh 

or i61, were already very successful 

as solo artists. 

Photos: Warner Music

Shortparis 

Indie rock band Shortparis is hailed by the international press as „the 

best Russian live act.“ Hailing from St. Petersburg, the band led by 

charismatic frontman Nikolay Komiagin has made a name for itself 

with their breathtaking performances. Whether sung in Russian, 

French, or English, their songs are complex and intense - post-punk, 

experimental noise, and acoustic chansons blend into a unique musical 

aesthetic. 

Photos: Labels 

Scriptonite 

Superlatives, as far as streaming numbers are concerned, are constantly 

being outdone. The 31-year-old rapper Scriptonite has been 

consistently at the top of the charts for some time now and is undisputedly 

one of Russia‘s biggest rap stars. Growing up as Adil Zhalelov 

in Pavlodar (Kazakhstan), Dr. Dre and Eminem his influences - you can 

also hear that in his music, which comes along not brutal, but melodic. 

His 2015 debut album „House With Normal Activity“ was critically 

acclaimed. The world in Scriptonite‘s songs is gloomy, characterized 

by money, parties, women and alcohol - sounds like gangsta rap, but 

comes across quite differently. This creative talent has many collaborations 

that have come together to form the collective „36 Jam“.

MORNING SHTERN 

Born Alischer Valeyev in 1998 in Ufa, some 1300 kilometers east of 

Moscow, rapper Morgenshtern is currently one of the Russian musicians 

of the moment, with YouTube clicks in the millions. He recorded 

his first track at the age of twelve. He became known for his YouTube 

show „#EasyRap,“ in which he challenged popular Russian rappers 

and showed how his tracks were created in just a few minutes. Moving 

to Moscow in 2018 gave his career another boost: shortly after, he celebrated 

his breakthrough with the song „Novyj Merin,“ then released 

the single „Cadillac“ together with Eldzhey - his most successful 

music video to date with 100 million clicks. Fun fact: Morgenshtern is 

the first man in Russia to receive a „Woman of the Year“ award (2020); 

in the same year he was also awarded „Musician of the Year“ by GQ 

Person of the Year. 

Photo: Wikipedia

NEW YORKER / Diversity United - Art Guide Moscow 22.11.21 – 13.03.22

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