One of the largest exhibition venues in Moscow is the Garage. The Museum of Modern Art of the Capital received this slightly strange name, since it was originally located in an abandoned automobile hangar in the Bakhmetyevsky bus depot.
A bit of history
In 2008, Daria Zhukova and representative of the cultural fund IRIS Fondation Molly Dent-Brocklehurst created a project to popularize contemporary art. The main demonstration area was the Garage exhibition pavilion. The Museum of Modern Art on this base was formed later - in 2013. It was then that from an old building in the style of the Russian avant-garde, located in the bus depot, the exposition moved to the pavilion of the park named after Gorky.
An unusual museum, where original, non-standard works of both domestic and foreign contemporary artists, sculptors, photographers were shown, quickly attracted the attention of Muscovites and visitors. In addition, this site often became the venue for interesting cultural events.
In June 2015, the Garage Museum of Modern Art moved to a restored building, where the Seasons restaurant was originally operating. Now in its three-story pavilion there are several exhibition, demonstration and interactive venues.
What can be seen in the "Garage"
Contemporary art is diverse, multifaceted and often incomprehensible not only to a simple layman, but also to professional critics. The “Garage” (Museum of Modern Art) provides an opportunity for creative people to convey their ideas to society, no matter in what form they may be embodied. For this purpose, the most diverse programs are organized. These are large international expositions and chamber exhibitions of young artists. There are also rooms dedicated to digital art and the work of photographers. Moreover, you can not only see the works themselves, but also listen to a lecture and watch a film about artists.
Of particular interest are the so-called interactive exhibits, which you can touch and watch how they change in the process of interacting with them.
"Art Experiment"
This interactive project, held annually by the museum, allows viewers to become active participants in the work of one or another artist and test themselves as creators of a work of art. In 2016, visitors will have the opportunity to get acquainted with the artistic techniques of Alexander Povzner and Irina Korina.
Work in a creative laboratory and participation in master classes are of interest and attract a large number of spectators. Since 2010, 35 thousand visitors of different ages took part in the "Art Experiment".
Garage for children
Museum staff have developed special children's programs that are educational and developing in nature. Children with their parents can not only get acquainted with representatives of contemporary art, but also listen to lectures on interesting topics related to journalism, the history of architecture and / or participate in art therapy sessions.
No less interesting are the interactive classes and master classes that professional teachers and artists conduct for children. Children from 5 years old can try their hand at work, and educational and developmental programs are differentiated depending on age.
The Garage Museum of Modern Art (address: Krymsky Val, house 9) provides the opportunity to organize holidays and birthdays for children, order as a gift, or create prints for bags and T-shirts in the workshop yourself. For very young children and their parents, the Mama's Place club works there, classes in which are taught by teachers, child psychologists, designers and artists.
Anton Belov - Director of the Garage Museum of Contemporary Art
The success of any cultural project in the modern world largely depends on the level of management. The transformation of the “Garage” from an ordinary museum into a center for the development of creativity and one of the places of worship in the capital is a merit in the first place of its director, Anton Belov.
After graduating from the capital's Institute of Steel and Alloys, he was not only seriously interested in contemporary art, but also became one of the best Russian art managers.
Anton Belov actively participated in the work of the Artchronika foundation, created a website-guide to the exhibition halls of Moscow, supports and promotes young artists, and founded the interesting Gallery White project. And in 2010 I received an offer to head the Garage (Museum of Modern Art).
Where is it and how can I get there
Currently, the Garage (Museum of Modern Art, Moscow) is located on Krymsky Val, in Gorky Park. Its main pavilion can be found on the left side of the central alley, and the educational one is located near the Pioneer pond. To get to the cultural site, it is most advisable to get to the Park Kultury metro station. Gorky Park is easily accessible on foot, moving from the Oktyabrskaya metro station.
In the museum, in addition to the exhibition halls, there is a rather rich library, cafe, educational center, bookstore and art salon, where you can buy everything you need for creativity.
Now you know that the Garage is a museum of modern art. Moscow has always been a city in which they loved everything new and extraordinary. That is why there are always a lot of visitors to the Garage, including tourists from different countries who are interested in Russian contemporary painting and sculpture.