First ever Erik Bulatov sculptures to go on show in France

An exhibition of new work by Russian artist Erik Bulatov will open on 1 August at The Foundry in Maubourguet, south-western France.

Of the five works, three will be paintings and two sculptures. The latter represent a departure into three dimensions for the first time in Bulatov’s artistic practice. The large-scale scultptures consist of Cyrillic letters made of black steel, partially coloured in the red of Communist-era propaganda. As with the paintings, they feature the word вперед, meaning “Onwards”.

Bulatov said of The Foundry, the former munitions factory-turned experimental art space where the works will be shown: “The building makes an impression that is very similar to what is going on now in Europe and Russia. It is a feeling of unrest, of danger. It is like something that has been abandoned, that existed before this moment and is now completely falling apart in front of our eyes, or, conversely, it is something that is now trying to repair itself.”

Erik Bulatov (b.1933) is known for his landscapes dominated by Russian words or slogans. He rose to prominience in the 1960s, forming the Sretensky Boulevard group with artists such as Ilya Kabakov, later going on to become one of the leading members of the Moscow Conceptualists.

The works will be open to the public at The Foundry from August 1. Click here for more information.