Riflemaker Lights up Soho This January With

Press release

Riflemaker lights up Soho this January with

work by Russian Venice Biennale artist

Andrey Bartenev: Disco-nexion

7 January – 11 March 2008

Riflemaker lights up Beak Street this January with a 'disco-remix' of Andrey Bartenev's apocalyptic light installation, which caused long queues outside the Russian Pavilion at this summer's Venice Biennale.

For its premiere at the 52nd Venice Biennale, Bartenev created a glass tunnel of fifty LED spheres with the words ‘connection lost’ circling around each one in endless orbit. At Riflemaker the words are replaced with ‘disco’ and ‘nexion’ which will spin continuously within the gallery while onlookers experience the work from the street, through the windows of the former gun shop.

A tiny heart placed inside each sphere symbolises personal frustration in a world of virtual and passive communication. The message endlessly revolves, reproducing itself in a blur of letters, light and mirrors like a dance-floor on which the revellers are almost touching yet still dance alone. The installation becomes a metaphor for the alienation of today's virtual and simulative communities that exist to give constant hope of an encounter.

Andrey Bartenev says ‘If I weren't an artist, I would be a dancing pianist. When I'm not creating art, I enjoy swimming in the pool at night. People who know me best might describe me as a 'Russian from the moon'. They might be surprised to learn that I'm from Venus. The best advice I ever received came from Paco Rabanne, he said: "Don't be in a rush to leave"’.

Andrey Bartenev represented Russia at this year’s Venice Biennale. He works in every medium from painting and three-dimensional sculpture to performance art. He has performed in the past with burlesque dancer Dita von Teese and will stage a unique one-off performanceat Riflemaker during the run of the exhibition. He has published books on the history of Russian body art, Russian illustration and a book on graphic matchbox design is soon to be written. Bartenev is currently collaborating with the Spanish fashion company Armand Basi. Part of that collaboration will result in a watch designed by the artist.

Andrey Bartenev (b. 1969) graduated from the Krasnodar Art Institute in 1989. He has been a Member of the Moscow Artists' Union since 1996 and lives and works in Moscow.

For further press information or images please contact:

Jeanette Ward, Theresa Simon & Partners 020 7734 4800 / 07729 930 812 or Tot Taylor, Riflemaker 020 7439 0000 / 07792 706494

RiflemakershowsAndrey Bartenev: Disco-nexion from 7 Jan to 11 March 2008

Address: 79 Beak Street, Soho, London, W1F 9SU Telephone: 020 7439 0000

Details of Andrey Bartenev’s performance at Riflemaker to be announced.

Riflemaker Soho Square opens to the public on 3 Dec 2007 with Marta Marcé: Diadem Paintings

Address: 1 Greek Street, London W1D 4NQ

Telephone 020 7439 0000 Website

Opening hours: Monday - Friday 10am – 6pm, Saturday 11am – 6pm

Riflemaker is co-directed by Virginia Damtsa & Tot Taylor.