RIGroup is delighted to continue its ongoing support to cultural exchange between Russia and the USA by organizing the second exhibition of contemporary Russian artists in Miami. After “MODUS-R” in December 2006, curated by two talented young Russian curators, this year’s exhibition offers a western view through the experienced eye of Julie Sylvester. Julie has organized and curated several major exhibitions of western artists at the Hermitage and has also been actively following the contemporary Russian art scene for many years.

During the 2nd Moscow Biennale earlier this year, RIGroup invited Matthew Barney to Moscow with a retrospective of his film work; this summer we supported the “All in the present must be transformed: Matthew Barney and Joseph Beuys” exhibition at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection during the Venice Biennale; in 2008 we will hold an exhibition of the finalists of the recently held “Kandinsky Prize” competition of contemporary Russian art in New York .

As a child, I remember my mother telling me that we need art and culture as much as a flower needs earth, sun and water in order to flourish. Cultural exchange fosters mutual understanding and tolerance and contemporary art challenges the brain and sharpens perception, both useful aspects in our fast changing material world. In a similar way Victor Pelevin’s spirited text about the life and feelings of SHED NUMBER XII shakes one up by its brilliant satirical philosophy and forces the reader into imagining all sorts of unusual roles and perspectives.

Our thanks go to Julie Sylvester for curating this exhibition, Craig Robins for yet again generously providing the space in the Miami Design District, Thomas Krens and Sam Keller for their ongoing support and last but not least to Nic Iljine for his repeatedly demonstrated enthusiasm and organizational talent.