Yuri Albert and Vadim Zakharov: Volkswagen presents exhibition of the Goslar Kaiserring awardees

The Volkswagen Group is a proud supporter of the annual Kaiserring exhibition in Goslar featuring influential works from the 2023 Kaiserring awardees Yuri Albert and Vadim Zakharov. The collaboration underlines Volkswagen’s role as partner of culture and the arts within the region.

• A selection of works of the 2023 Goslar Kaiserring recipients is on display at the Mönchehaus Museum in Goslar from October 7, 2023, until January 28, 2024.
• The Volkswagen Group is partner of the exhibition and strengthens the multi-year partnership with the Mönchehaus Museum.
• For the first time, the internationally renowned art prize is awarded to two artists.

Opening on October 7, 2023, the creative work of Russian-born Yuri Albert and Tajikistan-born Vadim Zakharov is being shown in a striking exhibition that was developed by the Mönchehaus Museum in Goslar with the support of the Volkswagen Group. Visitors are going to see paintings, photos, objects and installations that were created by the artists over the course of the recent decades and that had a huge influence on the evolution of conceptual art in general. The international Kaiserring jury honored both artists with the 2023 Kaiserring, marking the first year in which two artists have received the art prize.

Yuri Albert and Vadim Zakharov started their creative careers in the 1970s, when life in the Soviet Union was dictated by communism and artists like the two could not work officially. Their work was driven by humorous and provocative approaches to question the role of art within a society and analyze the relations between art and real life. Left with no access to the official soviet art world, Albert and Zakharov chose not only to present their work on their own but they also added their own critical reflection to it. In the 1990s, both artists moved to Western Europe and enriched their oeuvres with different concepts. Yuri Albert started to focus his work on questions around what art is and what is needs, while Vadim Zakharov intensified the exploration of politics and social mechanisms. Until 2014, both artists travelled regularly to Moscow to exhibit their work in Russia. Highly regarded as key artists of the Moscow conceptualism, Albert and Zakharov now live in Cologne and Berlin and present their works in exhibitions around the world.

Dr. Bettina Ruhrberg, Director of Mönchehaus Museum Goslar: „Volkswagen’s longstanding support as partner of the Kaiserring exhibitions enables us to underline the recognition of the work of the awardees with dedicated presentations. And here, we further honor the artistic achievements and provide many visitors with a first chance to engage with these exceptional works of art.“

Benita von Maltzahn, Director Cultural Engagement Volkswagen Group: „Since 2015, we have been supporting the exhibitions that feature the work of the Kaiserring awardees. And with these events, we help to provide the people in this region with chances to discover highly inspirational creative works. We are delighted to partner again with the Mönchehaus Museum to pave the way for the presentation of international acclaimed work of art in Goslar.“

Around the world, the Goslar Kaiserring is seen as one of most important prizes for contemporary artists. Since 1975, the city of Goslar has been awarding the prize in close consultation with an international jury. Among the recipients of the non-monetary award are Olafur Eliasson, Isa Genzken, Cindy Sherman und Sigmar Polke. The collaboration with the Mönchehaus Museum is a significant element of Volkswagen’s efforts to support culture and the arts in the regional spheres of corporate facilities and beyond. Together with its partners, the Volkswagen Group strives to provide open platforms for a great array of artists while the largest possible audience should be given the opportunity to engage with these works of art. These encounters stir the exchange of views and creative approaches. This capability is a vital resource to strengthen mutual understanding and mutual progress in a society.

Yuri Albert (*1959 in Moskau): The artist, curator and Kandinsky prize awardee in 2011 works and lives in Cologne and is regarded as key artist of the Moscow conceptualism.

Vadim Zakharov (*1959 in Dushanbe): The artist and author maintains a significant archive with works from the Moscow Conceptual art scene. He works and lives in Berlin where he also has been running his art project “Freehome – Artist to Artist” since 2016.

Exhibition Details: „Yuri Albert, Vadim Zakharov“, October 7, 2023 – January 28, 2024

Location: Mönchehaus Museum Goslar, Mönchestraße 1, 38640 Goslar

Opening Hours: Tuesday - Sunday 11 a.m. –5 p.m.