Whitechapel Gallery and V-A-C Foundation present Cabaret Kultura

Whitechapel Gallery and V-A-C Foundation present Cabaret Kultura
Three evenings of experimental performance
15-17 September 2016, Gallery 2

Whitechapel Gallery and V-A-C-Foundation are pleased to announce the first edition of V-A-C-Live. This new international programme of artist events is Whitechapel Gallery’s second collaboration with the V-A-C Foundation, and will be launched at the Gallery this autumn. V-A-C Foundation is a not-for-profit private institution founded in Moscow in 2009, committed to the international presentation, production and development of Russian contemporary art and cultural practice.

The first series of events at the Whitechapel Gallery titled Cabaret Kultura comprises three consecutive evening performances, from 15-17 September 2016. Tickets are now on sale.

Artists selected by the V-A-C Foundation take inspiration from the history of cabaret and avant-garde theatre of early 20^th Century Russia through exhilarating performances. The historic architecture of Gallery 2 at the Whitechapel Gallery, originally built as the reading room of the former Whitechapel Library, will be transformed into a stage set by Russian artist Sergey Sapozhnikov (b. 1986). Sapozhnikov will source materials from the local area and manipulate his finds to create a unique setting for the performances.

Each evening will begin with A Guided Tour of the Exhibition: For Soprano with Handbag, a performance work conceived by South African artist William Kentridge with his long-term collaborator Joanna Dudley. Dudley will lead the audience through a live performance of the work. William Kentridge will have a major solo exhibition at the Whitechapel Gallery from 21 September 2016 – 15 January 2017.

The first evening features a performance from Engineering Theatre AKHE, a Saint Petersburg based theatre collective, who will present one of their striking, immersive performances. The following evening sees Russian artist Evgeny Antufiev (b. 1986) perform his playfully dark lottery game Dead Nation: Bingo Version, which encourages audience participation. The final evening sees Alexander Selivanov (b.1978) and Alexander Kislov (b. 1987) collaborate with Sergey Sapozhnikov to create a choreographed performance and an experimental soundscape. Emerging artists Alexandra Galkina, Alevtina Kakhidze and Sasha Pirogova will also perform throughout the three evenings.

During the day, screenings of archival images of avant-garde set design, theatre, costume and cabaret will be on display in Gallery 2.

The launch of V-A-C Live at Whitechapel Gallery builds on an ongoing partnership between the Gallery and V-A-C Foundation. A series of four displays from the V-A-C Foundation collection were shown in a dedicated Collections Gallery from September 2014 – August 2015 as part of the Whitechapel Gallery’s ongoing programme of opening up rarely seen public and private collections from around the world.

Notes to Editors

V-A-C Foundation is a not-for-profit private institution founded in Moscow in 2009 by Leonid Mikhelson (Founder and President) and Teresa Iarocci Mavica (Director). V-A-C is committed to the international presentation, production and development of Russian contemporary art and cultural practise – across a multitude of forms and within the framework of an invigorated and informed exhibition, educational and publishing programme. Particularly important to the new generations of artists in Russia, V-A-C’s focus is on practically supporting and expanding the platform for home-grown talent, challenging artists to experience, engage with and interrogate international cultural practices whilst developing an authentic and autonomous artistic language. It is deservedly considered as one of the key proponents in opening out contemporary Russian culture to the wider world, through finding new platforms for exhibition, performance, live events and cross-cultural exchange. V-A-C Collection is a constantly developing body of works including sculptures, paintings and photographs from leading, internationally recognised artists such as Francis Bacon, Alghiero Boetti, Liz Deschenes, Natalia Goncharova, Wade Guyton, Wassily Kandinsky, Lucy McKenzie, Amadeo Modigliani, Sigmar Polke to Mike Nelson, James Richards, Gerhard Richter, Bridget Riley, Egon Schiele, Dayanita Singh and Christopher Wool.

For over a century the Whitechapel Gallery has premiered world class artists from modern masters such as Pablo Picasso, Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko and Frida Kahlo to contemporaries such as Sophie Calle, Lucian Freud, Gilbert & George and Mark Wallinger. With beautiful galleries, exhibitions, artist commissions, collection displays, historic archives, education resources, inspiring art courses, dining room and bookshop, the Gallery is open all year round, so there is always something free to see. It is a touchstone for contemporary art internationally, plays a central role in London’s cultural landscape and is pivotal to the continued growth of the world’s most vibrant contemporary art quarter.The Whitechapel Gallery does not own a Collection, but has a dedicated gallery for opening up public and private collections, including five displays from the British Council Collection from April 2009 – May 2010; four displays from The D. Daskalopoulos Collection, Greece, from June 2010 – May 2011; five displays from the Government Art Collection, from June 2011 – September 2012; four displays from the Collection Sandretto Re Rebaudengo from September 2012 – September 2013; four displays drawn from member museums of the Contemporary Art Society from September 2013 – August 2014 and four displays of works from the V-A-C Foundation collection from September 2014 – August 2015.

Visitor Information
Opening times: Tuesday – Sunday, 11am – 6pm; Thursdays, 11am – 9pm.
Whitechapel Gallery, 77 – 82 Whitechapel High Street, London E1 7QX.
Nearest London Underground Station: Aldgate East, Liverpool Street, Tower Gateway DLR. T + 44 (0) 20 7522 7888, info@whitechapelgallery.org, whitechapelgallery.org

Admission
£18.00/£15.00 concs.
Ticket price includes one free drink courtesy of Zima.

Zima is a totally new concept that combines the finest Russian street food, gourmet creations and homemade vodka infusions with a fascinating programme of events to create a new culinary, social and cultural hub unlike anything seen before in London’s West End.

Press Information
For further press information please contact:
Anna Jones, Media Relations Manager
T: + 44 (0)20 7522 7871
E: annajones@whitechapelgallery.org