Deisis Exhibition Sparks Controversy at Moscow's State Tretyakov Gallery in 2004

The exhibition Deisis/Forthcoming at Moscow's State Tretyakov Gallery in October 2004 provoked intense criticism from the local art community, with critics expressing alarm and rage under a veneer of irony. They argued the project merely masqueraded as advanced art while posing a threat to it. A computerized iteration, Deisis/Anthropology, was later shown as part of the Art Digital project at the Mars gallery during the Moscow Biennale, anticipated to elicit similar reactions. The artists involved succeeded in generating significant controversy, as noted in a review by Ekaterina Degot published on ARTMargins Online in April 2005. The project's title references 'Contemporary Art in the Time of Late Christianity,' highlighting its thematic focus. The exhibition's impact was underscored by its ability to shock observers, marking a notable event in Moscow's contemporary art scene.