ANNA JERMOLAEWA

Chernobyl Safari

Wed, 9.3.2022—Sun, 5.6.2022

MAK – Museum of Applied Arts

Ukraine was attacked by Russia on 24 February 2022, thus unleashing a war in Europe. On the same day, the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and the surrounding exclusion zone were placed under the control of the Russian military.

We stand for peace. Our solidarity is with Ukraine and its citizens.

Since the nuclear disaster of Chernobyl, Ukraine, the 30-kilometer exclusion zone around the reactor of the nuclear power plant has developed into a nature conservation area. Lynx, wolves, eagles, wild horses, and other rare animals live in the almost deserted, overgrown area under the influence of radioactive contamination. The artist Anna Jermolaewa went on a tour of this area and documented the animals living there to point out myths, legends, fears, and misunderstandings.

The project was first shown in 2015 at the Biennale in Kiev under the curatorship of Hedwig Saxenhuber and Georg Schöllhammer. Since then, Anna Jermolaewa continued to develop the exhibition project and traveled to the exclusion zone again in 2021.

Anna Jermolaewa illuminates hypercultural scenarios of our time in her artistic practice. She draws ambivalent pictures of the present using set pieces from various historical contexts and socio-political hot spots.

Curator: Bärbel Vischer, Curator, MAK Contemporary Art Collection

TALK

ARTIST ANNA JERMOLAEWA
IN CONVERSATION WITH MAK GENERAL DIRECTOR LILLI HOLLEIN
The talk was streamed live on the MAK Instagram channel @mak_vienna and can be watched here (in German).

EXHIBITION DATES

9 March – 5 June 2022
The exhibition will be presented in the context of FOTO WIEN 2022.

EDITION

As a sign of solidarity with Ukraine, Anna Jermolaewa has initiated an edition: Untitled, from the series Chernobyl Safari, 2014/2021, fine art pigment print on Hahnemühle Fine Art Baryta, edition 500 + 10 AP, EUR 150,– (plus VAT). The total proceeds of Anna Jermolaewa’s edition, supported by the MAK, will go to charitable causes for Ukrainians (Ariadne - Wir Flüchtlinge für Österreich). Available at the MAK DESIGN SHOP during museum opening hours and at makdesignshop.at

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