The world economy is not the best of times. Of course, the suffering and cultural institutions. Site ARTINFO.com wondered: How will it affect the crisis in the Moscow art world?

This year, specializing in media arts is a new favorite - Daria Zhukova. In autumn it with fanfare, opened in the former bus depot Konstantin Melnikov new Center for Contemporary Culture « Garage » , which has ambitions to become a« home »for fans of Moscow's contemporary art. The first project, which started in Zhukov «garage», became retrospective of the artist Ilya Kabakov - a of the few contemporary Russian authors whose works are so highly regarded in the West. The exhibition was a public outcry and made «garage» fashionable place. But not everything is as smooth in the center of modern culture. While the tabloid press blows on the abolition of the wedding Zhukova and Roman Abramovich (rumor that the entire fault of the groom a dark mood, has lost the bulk of his fortune because of the crisis), close to the leadership «garage» shepchutsya people on the early demise of the center. They say that it will close before the New Year. But the press-service «garage» denies these rumors: According to the Center, exhibition of works from the collections of tycoon Francois Pinault (François Pinault) , scheduled for February 2009, was not going to cancel. Recently center in conjunction with the London Serpentine Gallery organized an exhibition of video art, which you can see the work of «stars» of the genre, like Douglas Gordon (Douglas Gordon) and Jan Fudun (Yang Fudong). Especially for this project in the center of Moscow on Raushskoy the embankment was a big screen that broadcasts twenty-four-hour film and video.

plant «Krasny Oktyabr» , which was held in September triumphal exhibition galleries Gagosyana Larry (Larry Gagosian) , too, is not going to be vacant. December 12, it was called «Project of Modern Art» Baibakov Art Projects, a curator who became the daughter of former leader «Norilsk nickel» Maria Baybakova. This exhibition will feature approximately 25 works of young Russian artists. And in March, saying, «Red October» will host a retrospective of Jean-Michel Basque (Jean-Michel Basquiat).

If anyone of these ambitious plans seem a little, the role of «cherries on tortike» can play next news: recent newspaper The Art Newspaper reported that a Museum of Modern Art is going to open up his wife billionaire Igor Kesaeva Stella. And it is not the museum be located anywhere, but in another melnikovskom garage. In contrast, Daria Zhukova, become famous patron of the arts this year alone, Stella Kesaeva has long ranked among the prominent representatives of the Russian art world. In 2004, she sponsored a major exhibit Kabakova in the State Hermitage. Kesaeva also is the head of the fund Stella Art Foundation, and owned a large collection of works of modern art. In its museum, which is to open up to the Sochi Olympics in 2014, will be on display contemporary art, including works by such grandees as Komar and Melamid .

And how are you in today's commercial galleries? After all, their well-being is directly dependent on the buyers of works of art, most of those that currently choose not to spread the money and keep them with you. Summer gallery «Ridzhina» , which represents Seeds Faibisovich and some other well-known artists, planned to «learn» space One factory floors «Red October». But now, according to rumors, the leadership thinks that the wait for the expansion. Nevertheless, it is possible that the new exhibition space will nevertheless: they say that «Ridzhina» already gathering for the «chocolate bar» branch staff.

Gallery XL, has in its active participation in major international fairs Frieze and Art Basel, too, has publicly complained to the crisis is not. Recently, the deputy director Sergei Khripunov said that lowering the price gallery has no plans: he said, the work presented in XL, worthy of the large amounts that buyers pay for them.

A Gallery pop /off /art price declines as time «agenda». Recently, its director Sergei Popov said in an interview on the «new, more realistic pricing policy». Generally in the art world is waiting for the spring: then, on the predictions of analysts, the crisis reaches its climax. May Fair Art Moscow will «test» the health of the Russian art market. It was in 2009, it becomes clear whether the correction overtook his highest segment.

Of course, now the art market there is uncertainty, but none has yet to panic. Moscow art world is very small - only about 300 jobs. It is unlikely that in this sector are expected to mass layoffs and downsizing. In addition, most dealers will recall the economic crisis of 1998. If they were able to stand up when the art market in Russia did not exist, then they can look to the future with confidence.

Material prepared Yulia Maksimova

Sources : artinfo.com , artinvestment.ru