Did you know:
St. Petersburg’s Erarta Museum is Russia’s largest private museum of contemporary art, providing a venue for works that once had a limited public presence in the city.
The museum’s name originates from the two sculptures by Dmitry Zhukov located at the entrance, Era and Arta, which loosely translates to “The Era of Art.”
Erarta contains a large collection of “nonconformist” works by artists who refused to adhere to the state-sanctioned style of Socialist Realism during the latter half of the Cold War.
The collection includes two works called The Last Supper: Andrei Filippov’s 1989 work consists of a table covered with red cloth, but instead of traditional cutlery, the plates are surrounded by threatening hammers and sickles, representing the death of the Communist Party. Pavel Grishin’s 2010 installation is explicitly based on Leonardo Da Vinci’s painting, but his easily recognizable figures are covered by a heavy drape.
The “U-Space” project occupies eight halls and immerses viewers in unique environments designed to elicit emotional responses. One of the halls, My House-My Fortress, consists of a dilapidated, otherworldly Soviet apartment that accentuates feelings of hopelessness in visitors.
Learn more about the Erarta Museum.
Image credit: Dmitry Petukhov: My House – My Fortress? "U-Space", 2009 (St. Petersburg: Erarta Museum); image courtesy of Erarta Museum
