Vladimir DUBOSSARSKY & Alexander VINOGRADOV

London, with its famous art schools, but above all its attractive economic system, hosts an ever-growing community of Russian oligarchs and the major auction houses (always in unison) organise specialized sales of Russian at the rate of two a year (spring and autumn).

Although contemporary Russian artists have not yet generated the exceptional prices that artists like Damien HIRST or Jeff KOONS command, they nevertheless represent a dynamic market that is ready for broader international exposure.

After Sotheby’s sale of contemporary Russian art in February and the second edition of the Moscow biennial art fair in March, contemporary Russian art is enjoying considerable effervescence.In historical terms, Russian artists’ freedom to express themselves is a relatively recent phenomenon. For example, in 1974 an exhibition of non-conformists in Moscow was demolished by a State bulldozer. Over recent years the cultural face of the Russian capital has changed radically with the opening of contemporary art centres. Although much of the contemporary work is focused on social and political critiques of the old communist regime, a broad diversification of artistic languages is beginning to emerge. Contemporary Russian art is attracting more and more amateur art collectors; however, for the time being, the majority of professional collectors are still of Russian origin.