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Alexander BrenerArtist, one of the leaders of Moscow actionism, writer
Country:
 Israel |
Content:
- Artist and Political Activist: The Life and Work of Alexander Brener
- Actions and Performances
- Moscow and Controversy
- International Presence
Artist and Political Activist: The Life and Work of Alexander Brener
Early Life and EducationBorn into a family of academics in Almaty, Alexander Brener's artistic inclination emerged during his studies at the Abay Kazakh Pedagogical Institute and later at the Herzen State Pedagogical University of Leningrad.
Actions and Performances
While his own involvement in art remains disputed, Brener identifies as a political activist. Collaborating with Barbara Schurz, he executed several provocative actions. In 1992, he gained notoriety for his performance in the Yelokhovsky Cathedral, where he disrupted a service with cries of "Chechnya! Chechnya!"
Moscow and Controversy
During his time in Moscow, Brener's involvement in poetry, art criticism, and performance art garnered attention. In 1995, he made headlines with his eccentric appearance at Bloomsday-95, as recounted by Viktoria Shokhina in her article "Empathy."
International Presence
Since 1997, Brener has resided in Vienna, Berlin, and London, frequently returning to Russia. His controversial "Dollar Sign on Malevich's Suprematism" performance at the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam resulted in a five-month prison sentence, but the vandalized artwork was later successfully restored.
