The artist invited for the first edition of AlbumArte | studio residency programme 2014 is Leonid Tsvetkov, in collaboration with the Ex Elettrofonica gallery
After his residency at the American Academy in Rome in autumn-winter 2012-13, the Russian-American artist Leonid Tsvetkov returns to Rome to open the season of AlbumArte|studio residency programme 2014, a project that intends to offer artists their own space as a studio to work in and to receive studio visits. Everyday Downfall, the work realized by the artist during his period of residency at the AAR, began from the interest that Tsvetkov has always had in the archaeological find as a material expression of habits and customs of the past and, above all, as a key to reading what today might potentially remain and become finds for archaeologists of the future. The primary inspiration was Monte Testaccio, a place the artist described as “a landscape of garbage”. The fascinating aspect of Monte Testaccio lies not only in the fact that it is made up of amphora fragments from the second and third centuries AD that originated from Spain, but that today this dump is held to have a high aesthetic – as well as archaeological – value.
Starting from this premise, the artist began collecting scrap materials of daily life, especially food packaging. Concrete moulds of these containers (of various shapes and sizes) were then displayed on the ground of the atrium of the American Academy, in close dialogue with the archaeological finds kept there and creating an ideal urban landscape. After the exhibition, Tsvetkov continued his project by “abandoning” these moulds in all the archaeological areas of Rome and its environs.
During his residency in Rome, for forty days Tsvetkov will have at his disposal the vast ground-floor studio of AlbumArte to prepare the unseen works of his solo show entitled Disturbances which will open on March 21st at the Ex Elettrofonica gallery. Studio visits will also be organized with curators and critics, who will be able to get to know Tsvetkov’s artistic inquiry, while the artist will be able to engage with the contemporary art world of Rome.
Leonid Tsvetkov (1980, Novgood, Russia). Main exhibitions: 2014, WAEN, Assumburg, Hemskerk, NL;Hasselt-Genk Z-33, Hasselt, BE; Sammlung Ludwig, Bamberg, DE; 2013, Cinque Mostre, American Academy in Rome, IT; 2012, Moment of Now, 361Roma Associazione Culturale, Rome, IT;Back to the Future, CBKU, Utrecht, NL; 2011, What’s Next, Museum Tot Zover, Amsterdam, NL; MärklinWorld, Kunsthal KAdE, Amersfoort, NL; Muro Tenente Archeological Park, Apulia, IT; Control Symposium presentation, KNAW, Amsterdam, NL;2008, Metro Poles: Art in Action, Bronx River Art Center, New York, NY; Thursday The 12th, Kate Werble Gallery, New York, NY; Blank, Beijing, China; 2007, Habitant, HGallery, Bangkok, Tailand; Sculpture Dimensions and Field Variable, San Vito al Tagliamento, IT; Carte Blanche, Elizabeth Dee Gallery, New York, NY; Blank, Ke Contemporary Center for the Arts, Shanghai, China; Horizon, EFA Gallery, New York, NY; Short Stories, Photographs 1890-2006, Macy Art Gallery, New York, NY; 2006,The Armory Show, Represented by Jack Tilton Gallery New York, NY; School Days, Jack Tilton Gallery New York, NY; 2005, Blackboards, Yale University School of Management, New Haven, CT. Scholarships and prizes: 2013, Internationales Künstlerhaus Villa Concordia Stipendium; Mondriaanfonds Basis Stipendium; 2012,Royal Dutch Fellow. American Academy in Rome. AFAAR 2012-13; 2010, Van Bijleveltstichting Award; 2009, Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds, Amsterdam, Netherlands;2006, Ely Harwood Schless Memorial Fund Prize, Yale University;2005, Robert Scheolkopf Traveling Scholar, Yale University;2003, Best of SUNY (Art), Chancellor Scholarship; 2001, Lancelotte and Richard Laster Scholarship; 2000, Rochester Art Supply Sponsors Award; 1999, North American Collegiate Chess Championship. Top Board.
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