Contemporary realities present artists with complex challenges: how to integrate into the international art scene while being in an isolated country, and how to grow creatively without the freedom of open expression. This year, second time we hold the Swamp Biennale in parallel with the Venice Biennale, as the current situation deprives many artists of the opportunity to be heard on the global stage.
The theme of this year’s Venice Biennale, "Foreigners Everywhere", curated by Adriano Pedrosa, explores the ideas of displacement, transformation, and the eternal sense of wandering.
Swamp Biennale was located on the grounds of a former scientific research institute for precious metals exploration. Borders, which may seem clearly defined on maps, are in fact constantly reconsidered and reinterpreted. Geology plays a crucial role in this process, influencing where and how boundaries are drawn and how resources are exploited. At the heart of every territorial dispute remains the fight for control over oil, gas, metals, and water. These resources shape the economic and political significance of regions, turning borders into lines of conflict or cooperation.
Curators: Vasilisa Lebedeva, Olga Tumanova
Producer: Anna Semenova
Participants: Aleksandr Egorov, Anastasia Litvinova, Anna Grositskaya, Anna Tararova, Group AM, Dasha dada Bludova, Evgeniya Sterlyagova, Zhenya Mukha, Zherdyoly Pospeli (Timofey Maksimov, Eldar Ganeev, Nadezhda Lisovskaya, Tatyana Taput, Ilya Khart, Katya Shafir, Pyotr Tsarev), Nastya Belova, Ivan Gorshkov, Irina Gulyakina, Irina Turchenko, Kondratiy Sery, Larion Tareev, Liliya Kim, Lyubov Remizova, Maresiy Ivashchenko, Mitriy Grankov, Nastya Kovalyova, Natalya Konyukova, Nika Belyaeva, Oleg Ivanov, Olya Makhno, Olga Oskina, Pavel Zudanov, Sasha Kokacheva, Serafima Sazhina, Sergey Aksyutenko, Slava PTRK, Timofey Maksimov, Tina Shibalova, Boloto (Olga Tumanova, Vasilisa Lebedeva), GALOLBO, Digital Objects Alliance Duo (Sasha Puchkova, Anya Leonova), 22 Community, ZenitsaMedunitsa.
Address: Moscow, Varshavskoye Shosse, 58 bld. 4. Very Strong Place.
Dates: The Bolotnaya Biennale opened as a private event for three days of viewing from September 6th to 8th, 2024. A residency was held from August 29th to September 5th, during which artists set up their pavilion, creating site-specific works and immersive installations.
Disclaimer: The self-organized initiative BOLOTO is a non-profit organization. It does not receive any fees or remuneration for its work. Funds collected from donations and other contributions are solely used to cover expenses and support future projects. All artworks created for the Bolotnaya Biennale are non-commercial.
