Russian Artists Yuri Albert and Vadim Zakharov Honored with Kaiserring 2023 Award for Fostering East-West Artistic Exchange

Vadim Zakharov expressed his gratitude to the city of Goslar, the mayor, the jury, and the team at Mönchehaus Museum for recognizing his 45-year-long artistic career, saying, "I do hope that the award also comes in recognition of my independent position in contemporary art."  "It is very important that we two are sharing this award," as Yuri Albert expressed in his words of thanks. Albert mentioned that Vadim Zakharov has been his friend since their time at the university in 1977, and they have been discussing art ever since. He also added, referring to the current war situation in Ukraine, "It's very hard to talk about art at a time when your country is leading a terrible and criminal war, but I'll do my best." He also thanked the jury and the city of Goslar.

"For a long time, the Kaiserring has been one of the most significant art awards of contemporary art in Germany and has gained international acclaim," explained Mayor Urte Schwerdtner. "Promoting culture is very important to us, which is why the city of Goslar has been hosting the Kaiserring since 1975 and continues to make a clear commitment to this art prize for the future." Yuri Albert and Vadim Zakharov have been known as critical artists for a long time and have achieved international success. The Kaiserring jury has thus made another statement and continued the tradition of selecting thought-provoking award recipients. "Although the decision was made for artistic reasons, it can also be seen as a symbol for all those who do not support the Russian regime and its current politics," said Schwerdtner.

"Goslar, representing all of Lower Saxony, has successfully established an internationally recognized award for modern art in northern Germany with the Kaiserring," said Lower Saxony's Minister of Culture Falko Mohrs, who conveyed greetings on behalf of the Lower Saxony state government. "This year's award recipients, Yuri Albert and Vadim Zakharov, send a signal that art can bridge the deep divides that have formed or deepened between peoples and individuals since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The award sends a visible and important signal for the freedom of art. It also honors the courage to remain resilient against a hostile ideology in a totalitarian system. Yuri Albert and Vadim Zakharov set an example for all their fellow countrymen who refuse to let their inner freedom be taken away."

"The jury acknowledges with the awarding of the Kaiserring Goslar 2023 two artists who, based on their experiences in the artistic underground scene of Moscow, excluded from the state art scene of the Soviet Union, have provided groundbreaking new impulses to international conceptual art," as stated in the jury's rationale.

Main Image : (l)Yuri Albert, b 1959 Moskau (r) Vadim Zakharov, b 1959 Duschanbe