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Nikolay Vladimirovich Polissky was born in Moscow on January 5th, 1957. In 1982 he graduated from the Mukhina Higher School of Industrial Design in Leningrad, where he studied at the Ceramics Department. He was a member of the Mitki group of artists, with whom he participated in exhibitions in many cities all over the world.
He moved to Nikola-Lenivets in 1989. In 2000 artist created Snowmen, the first project in the village of Nikola-Lenivets. It was the start of Nikolay Polissky’s career as a Russian land artist. The project involved endless ranks of snowmen marching over the fields. 220 snow warriors were made that winter, and Polissky’s neighbours from the village joined in.
He continued creating art objects from natural materials – snow, wood and rod, and organised art events to destroy them. Polissky organized several art events, when he understood that it is time to take things more seriously. And in 2005 he made a decision to found the festival, called “Archstoyanie” (“Architectural Standing”).
In Russia, Nikolai Polissky is often associated with Land art, but this is only part of the picture. His work touches on national mythology, while It ill being grounded in historical reality. The experience of developing a village with natural materials using art as the subject no longer seems so utopian. Unlike Tatlin’s Monument to the Third International, which was never realized, the towers of Nikola-Lenivets stand firmly on the ground”
Was born in 1957 in Moscow, studied in the Leningrad Higher industrial-art school of Muhina.
Founder of the Archstoyanie Festival.
Individual exhibitions
2009
Museum of Contemprorary Art of Luxembourg ‘MUDAM’, Luxembourg
2008
Russian Exhibition Hall, XI Venice Biennale of Architecture, Venice
2002
Solo-exhibition, Lilja Zakirova Gallery, Heusden, The Netherlands
1997
‘Twenty views of the river Ugra’, Central House of Artists, Moscow
1990-1991
Gallery XXI, Spain (Madrid)
Selected projects
2014
‘Roots de la Loire’, Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire, France
‘Bellevedeur’, Rieux. France
2013
‘Beaubourg’, Nikola-Lenivets, Russia
2012
‘Universal Mind’, Nikola-Lenivets, Russia
‘The Lascaux’, Nikola-Lenivets, Russia
‘Firebird in Gorkiy Park ’, Moscow
‘Snowmen in Gorkiy Park’, Moscow
‘Snowmen Parade’, Perm
2011
‘Perm Gates’, Perm
2010
‘Spoutnik’, Dunkerque (France)
‘Hunting Trophies’, hotel Le Royal Monceau, Paris (France)
2009
Hyperboloid Cooling Tower ‘Volcano’, village of Nikola-Lenivets
‘Large Hadron Collider’, Museum of Contemprorary Art of Luxembourg “MUDAM”, Luxembourg
2008
‘Firebird’, village of Nikola-Lenivets
‘The Rooks Have Returned’, village of Nikola-Lenivets
2007
‘Borders of The Empire’, village of Nikola-Lenivets
2006
‘Fire taming, or Russian’, (in collaboration with G.Vinogradov), village of Nikola-Lenivets
‘Park for one day’, Moscow Region (Voskresensk)
2005
‘Likhoborskie Gate’, (architect G.Lihterova), Moscow
2004
‘Nizhny Novgorod Ice-run’, Nizhny Novgorod
‘Baykonur’, State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow, 1st Moscow Biennale of Contemporary Art
‘Lighthouse on Ugra’, village of Nikola-Lenivets
‘Shrovetide at Nikola-Lenivets’, (in collaboration with G.Vinogradov), village of Nikola-Lenivets
2003
‘Empire column’, Manezh Central Exhibition Hall, Moscow
‘Art-Bazaar’, “Art Klyazma” Festival, Moscow Region
2002
‘Media-Tower’ (also ‘Teletower’), village of Nikola-Lenivets
‘Column of vine’, Est-Ouest festival, France (Die)
‘Aqueduct’, village of Nikola-Lenivets
2001
‘Firewood Tower’, village of Nikola-Lenivets
2000
‘Tower’ (also Hay Tower’), village of Nikola-Lenivets
‘Snowmen’, (in collaboration with K. Batynkov & S. Lobanov), village of Nikola-Lenivets
Selected group exhibitions
2013
Russia XXI, Museum Beelden Aan Zee, Haague, Netherlands
2012
Exhibition of the nominees on Kandinsky Prize 2012, Moscow
In an Absolute Disorder, Russian Contemporary Art Kandinsky Prize, Barcelona
2011
‘Dormitory Suburb. School № 109. Open Lesson’, Moscow
‘Bêtes Off’, Conciergerie, Paris
‘Monuments and Animals’, Chateau Chateadun
‘Russian Povera’, Padiglione d’Arte Contemporanea, Milano
‘Contempororary art in traditional museum’, Pro Arte, Saint-Peterburg
2010
‘Dormitory Suburb: Stop – School’, Moscow
‘Sretenka Design Week. ArchSretenka’, Moscow
‘Snowmen’ on Universitet, Moscow
‘Russian Utopias’, Garage Centre for Contemporary Culture, Moscow
Exhibition of the nominees for V Russian Annual ‘Innovation’ Award, NCCA, Moscow
2009
Exhibition of the nominees for IV Russian Annual ‘Innovation’ Award, NCCA, Moscow
‘Russian Povera’, within 3rd Moscow Bienalle of Contemporary Art, Perm Museum of Contemporary Art, Red October gallery, Moscow
‘Labour Movement’ within 3rd Moscow Bienalle of Contemporary Art, Project_Fabrika gallery, Moscow
Exhibition of the nominees for ‘Kandinsky Prize 2009’, Central House of Artists, Moscow
2008
‘Borders of The Empire’ in Perm, installation of wood, “Russian Povera”, Perm
‘Russian Povera’, Perm
‘Russian Dreams’, Bass Museum of Art, Miami Beach, USA
2007
‘Diary of an Artist’, Marat Guelman Gallery, Central House of Artists, Moscow
2005
‘Snowmen’ on Arbat, Moscow
‘Slide-labyrinth’, 1st Moscow Biennale of Contemporary Art, Art-Klyazma Festival, Moscow Region
2004
‘Art-Klyazma’ Festival, action “Art-Bazaar 2”, Moscow Region
Realisme Amsterdam, Art Fair, by Lilja Zakirova Gallery
2003
‘Art Moscow Workshop’, Central House of Artists, Moscow
‘Neue Ansatze / Zeitgenossische Kunst aus Moskau’, Kunsthalle Dusseldorf, Germany (Dusseldorf)
Art Frankfurt Art Fair, Frankfurt, Germany, by Lilja Zakirova Gallery
2002
‘Exhibition of Russian Photography’ at the Stand of Carre Noir Gallery at Paris Photo, “Paris Photo-2002”, France (Paris)
‘Modern Russian Photography’, 2nd International Photography Festival “PRO Zrenie’, Nizhny Novgorod
‘IV International Month of Photography in Moscow, Photobiennale 2002’, Manezh Central Exhibition Hall, Moscow
‘Art Moscow Workshop’, Central House of Artists, Moscow
‘De Moscou’, Centre for Contemporary Art “Le Quartier”, France (Quimper)
‘Art-Manezh 2002’, object “Picturesque Tower”, Manezh Central Exhibition Hall, Moscow
2001
KunstRai, Art Fair, Amsterdam, by Lilja Zakirova Gallery
‘Art Moscow’, Central House of Artists, Moscow
‘New exhibits at the Moscow House of Photography’, Moscow House of Photography, Moscow
2000
‘Art Moscow’, Central House of Artists, Moscow;
‘New exhibits at the Moscow House of Photography’, Moscow Centre for the Arts, Moscow
‘Art Forum’, Central Exhibition Hall, Perm
1999
‘The Manilov project’ (in collaboration with K. Batynkov & S. Lobanov), Toko Tower, Moscow
‘Temple of Solitary Reflection’ (in collaboration with K. Batynkov & S. Lobanov), Marat Guelman Gallery, Moscow
1997
Vodka, installation “MITvitrizvitel” (as a member of The Mitki), Marat Guelman Gallery, Moscow // Moscow International Forum for Artistic Initiatives, New Manezh, Moscow
‘The Mitki Honour the Navy’ (as a member of The Mitki), Central Naval Museum, St. Petersburg
‘The Mitki. The General Staff building’, action on Gogol’evsky Bul’var, (as a member of The Mitki), Moscow
‘The Mitki’s New Year’s Tree’, New Year’s Party on Manezhnaya Square (as a member of The Mitki), Moscow
1995-1996
‘How to Draw a Horse’ (curator E.Nesterova), horse cloth “Dappled horse” и “Sailor’s striped vest for a horse”, Central House of Artists, Moscow
‘ART-Russia’ (as a member of The Mitki), Central House of Artists, Moscow
‘Blow-Up’, “Sailor’s striped vest of friendship” (as a member of The Mitki), Gallery on Kuznetsky Most, Moscow
1993
‘The Mitki, Retrospective exhibition to mark the 10th anniversary of The Mitki’ (as a member of The Mitki), State Russian Museum, St. Petersburg
1990 – 1991
‘The Logic of Paradox’ (as a member of The Mitki), Palace of Youth, Moscow
‘I Bienalle of newest art’, Leningrad
‘International Art Fair’, Germany (Hamburg)
1989
‘The Mitki in Europe’ (as a member of The Mitki), Germany (Cologne), France (Paris), Belgium (Antwerp)