Yevgeniy Fiks Reclaims Jewish Space Age Narratives in New York Shul Exhibition

From November 18 to December 16, 2018, conceptual artist Yevgeniy Fiks showcased his work, Heaven and Earth: Yiddish Cosmos, at Stanton Street Shul in New York. The exhibition later moved to Galerie Sator in Paris, running from January 5 to February 9, 2019. Born in Moscow in 1972 and a New York resident since 1994, Fiks delves into Cold War narratives across three sections. 'Cosmopolitans in Space' features Volf Gordin, who developed a universal language during the 1917 October Revolution. 'Rootless Cosmonautics' focuses on Ary Sternfeld, an aerospace science pioneer. 'Sovietish Cosmos' juxtaposes Yuri Gagarin with Boris Volynov, who faced delays due to anti-Semitism. The exhibit critiques Space Race stories, emphasizing Jewish contributions and the effects of anti-Semitism. Photographs by Igor Khodzinskiy.