|
Oleg Mavromatti (b.1965, USSR) is a n interdisciplinary artist, who works in the field of performance, installation, film, video and computer animation. An outstanding representative of the Moscow actionism. Mavromatti’s works have been shown at venues such as Museum of Contemporary Art, Denver; The Culture Center of Stockholm, Pro-Arte Institute, St. Petersburg; Museum of Cinema and Central House of the Artists, Moscow. In 2004 together with Boryana Rossa he co-founded the art collective ULTRAFUTURO, which works in the intersection of technology, ethics and human/machine identity. ULTRAFUTURO is an initiator of International Robot Day (since Feb 5th 2004). ULTRAFUTURO works were shown at the Biennial for Electronic Art, Perth (BEAP); Society for Art and Technology (SAT), Montreal; 2nd Moscow Biennial; Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, RPI, Troy, NY; MUMOK, Viena; Zacheta Gallery, Warsaw; RIAP Performance Art Festival Quebec; Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam and Exit Art, NY. Mavromatti is also a founder of Supernova Film Union (since 1995) and Absolute Love Sect Collective (1995-2000). He was a member of the art collectives Netseziudik (1993-1995) and ETI (Expropriation on the Territory of Art: 1989). Mavromatti's performances are substantial part of the the respected historical monography “Russian Actionism 1990-2000” (2008) by Andrei Kovalev. Mavromati is currently prosecuted under article 282 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation for "inciting religious and national animosity" for a scene from a film, which he was shooting 10 years ago. The action took place at the yard of the Institute of Cultural Studies, Moscow. This scene featured a performance art piece called "Do not Believe Your Eyes," by the character in the film, which involved his crucifixion. This crucifixion was wrongly interpreted by certain fundamentalist Orthodox Christian circles as blasphemous and offensive to Christians. Since late nineties, these particular religious circles prosecute artists and cultural producers under the article 282. All these people face 3 to 5 years in prison. These prosecutions reflect particular moods against contemporary art in Russia, which resulted increasing censorship and violation of the freedom of speech and expression of Russian artists. The Current Situation In 2010 Mavromatti was denied a renewal of his Russian passport by the Russian consulate in Bulgaria. The reason was a persecustion for the same performance. If he returns to Russia, he is going to be sued under the law 282 and faces 3-5 years of jail. He is currently residing in Bulgaria without documents and is needs to collect money for his legal support. Community of support for Oleg Mavromatti
|