Flies and Angels – Ilya & Emilia Kabakov and the Art of the ‘Total’ Installation (+14)

Ilya Kabakov was born in the Ukraine on September 30^th 1933. He is considered one of the most important contemporary artists worldwide. There is practically no significant museum of contemporary art around the world that doesn’t show at least one of his installations.

The documentary (K.Stutterheim & N.Bolbrinker) introduces his world and its relation to experienced reality. With his etchings, paintings and particularly with these installations he has together with Emilia created a phantastic world that serves as allegory and counterpoint to the reality and its many failed visions of the former Soviet Union and beyond. They are art works telling life histories, touching emotions and memories held by people everywhere. But his stories are more than personal dramas: Kabakov is one of the last great utopists. He looks disenchantedly at the debris of the 20th century but at the same time, with human warmth and a distinct imagination, he is able to envision other worlds. As in no other work, the filmmakers are in direct conversation with Ilya and Emilia Kabakov, who opened the door to their study and home to them.

With this screening, we want to celebrate the 90^th birthday of one of the greatest Ukrainian artists, who sadly passed away this May.

Q&A to follow screening