Russian postmodernism emerged from a history where models and ideas often replaced reality. Leaders introduced new ideologies through force or projects, like Prince Vladimir introducing Christianity, Peter the Great introducing Western culture, or communist ideals under Stalin being artificial simulations. By the late 20th century, concepts of capitalism and free markets came to post-Soviet Russia against a backdrop of societal devastation. Russian artists reflected this theme through works mocking Soviet ideologies or creating ironic pieces combining political and religious symbols.

1. Russian Postmodernism

2. Mikhail Epstein “ The Origins and Meaning of Russian Postmodernism” (1995)

3. In Russia models of reality have always replaced reality itself. 988: Prince Vladimir forcefully introduced Christianity Early 18th c.: Peter the Great introduced Western culture , built St. Petersburg Late 18th c.: Potemkin villages 20th c.: artificial communist ideals and enthusiasm 1990s: ideas of capitalist economy and free enterprise are pure conceptions against the background of a devastated society

4. “ Russians have only names for everything, but nothing in reality. Russia is a country of façades.[...] How many cities and roads exist only as projects.[…]” Marquis de Custine, 1839

5. “ Signs of a new reality, of which Soviet citizens were so proud in the thirties and fifties, from Stalin’s massive hydroelectric plant on the Dnieper River to Khriushchev’s decision to raise corn and Brezhnev’s numerous autobiographies, were actually pure ideological simulations of reality. This artificial reality was intended to demonstrate the superiority of ideas over simple facts.” Mikhail Epstein

6. Russian Sots-Art

7. Vitaly Komar and Alexander Melamid

8. Lenin and Stalin

9. Self-Portraits as Lenin and Stalin, 1972

10. Red Square

11. Ideal Slogan, 1972

12. Quotation, 1972

13. Komar’s Wife with Their Son and Melamid’s Wife, 1972

14. Stalin and the Muses, 1982

15. Lenin Lived, Lenin Lives, Lenin Will Live, 1982

16. Nostalgic View of the Kremlin from Manhattan, 1982

17. Erik Bulatov

18. Krasikov Street, 1977

19. Sunrise or Sunset, 1989

20. Symbols of the Century Alexander Kosolapov, 1982

21. Adam and Eve

22. Stalin

23. Cutlery

24. Device for Determining Nationality

25. Young Hope of the World

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