Working on the Moscow Art Prize exposition has become a recurring responsibility of the bureau despite the complexity of re-inventing design concepts to adhere to the ever-changing themes explored by participating artists. Thus when it comes to the project as vast as MAP, permanence comes in the objective to depict the progress and rapid motion of modern art.
This year’s exposition focuses on the city of Moscow — the place where the Prize takes place annually, and which served as inspiration for nominees while working on their pieces.
Upon entering the exhibition space, viewers find themselves immersed into a familiar ornament of a city environment. To amplify this feeling, architects used Moscow-specific materials based on historical references and cultural associations: gold allude to the many golden domes the city is known for, metal panels on the walls coincide with the city’s industrial boom of the 60s and 70s, while sections decorated with tiles serve as an allegory to the modern concrete architecture.
These materials are deliberately combined with plywood pieces that remind of ancient history and wooden architecture. Such synthesis creates a powerful, dynamical and harmonious environment that holds the best modern art pieces created in Moscow.