KUKRYNIKSY

Date:
2024Location:
Manezh Central Exhibition Hall (Moscow)Project team:
Architecture: PSCultureChief Producer: Tatyana Donskikh
Curators: Lyubov Podlesova
Developer: Red Square
Multimedia: Anton Safiulin
Equipment: ALEDO
Photographer: Vasily Bulanov
The exhibition “Kukryniksy” is dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the union of three artists: Mikhail Kupriyanov, Porfiry Krylov and Nikolay Sokolov.
The three artists worked using the method of collective creativity. They are best known for their numerous masterfully executed caricatures and cartoons, as well as book illustrations created in a characteristic caricature style.




The basis of their work was grotesque topical caricatures on themes of domestic and international life, propaganda, including anti-fascist, posters, illustrations for works.

They became classics of Soviet political caricature, which they understood as a weapon in the fight against the political enemy, and did not recognize other trends in art and caricature at all.

Their works, filled with sarcasm and social criticism, are a reflection of their time





Each work of Kukryniksy is a miniature story, each detail is filled with meaning.
They created entire stories, permeated with multi-layered metaphors and allusions. Their works combine sharp satire and deep humanity, which makes them relevant to this day.




The project was located in the Manezh Central Exhibition Hall, it consisted of 10 halls with a total area of 2000 sq.m and united 314 works from the collections of Russian museums and private collections.
The lighting for Kukryniksy was developed with special attention: the team selected lighting techniques and shades for the architecture and theme of each hall. Thus, the iconic lemon shade in the exhibition is revealed with the help of a neutral CT 3500K, which allows to reflect the coolness of the color and not to lose the tonality of the exhibits.





Sharp beams of light in the “gates” between the halls “Nuremberg Trials” and “Cold War” are of key importance in the lighting scenography of the exhibition. The rays symbolize, on the one hand, a time rift, and on the other, the aggravation of relations between the USSR and America.

