Dmitry Ozerkov
«On the one hand, contemporary art is in a cheerful and positive condition, but on the other hand its ways are quite complicated, because (not only in Russia) people don’t love it and suspect it in secret sins. ... Contemporary art is under great suspicion and people think that it carries wrong and even dangerous message. This is, of course, completely wrong situation, because if there is no modern art, then there is nothing at all. We will hide in the classical art and will stop to evolve. And then our culture will disappear if we stop doing something» (Dmitry Ozerkov, Arterritory.com)
«There is a struggle, and currently no one can definitely say whether to show contemporary art at the museums or not, and how to show. This is a matter of discussion. Because contemporary art either joins the conversation with the old one, or it may happen as with an old man would say: leave me alone, go away. In this case the museum acts as a kind of archive, warehouse. And we are trying to prove that the museum is alive. This is exactly the way The Hermitage has chosen and it consistently follows it, and this is our advantage» (Dmitry Ozerkov, The Art Newspaper Russia)
The Head of Contemporary Art Department of The State Hermitage museum, Head of “Hermitage 20/21” project, Fine art expert, curator.
Dmitry Ozerkov – is the one of the founders of the Contemporary Art Department at the State Hermitage museum and the “Hermitage 20/21” project. Since 2007 the department headed by Dmitry has held more than 30 exhibitions and has implemented a number of scientific and educational projects. He has supervised exhibitions of works of young artists from the USA, the United Kingdom, France and Japan. He has been listed in the Top-50 of the most influential people in Russian art according to "Artguide" magazine.
The main goal of the department, invariably lead by him - the research and exhibition of the world contemporary art, as well as the formation of the Museum's collection of modern art. Ozerkov points out to the continuity of generations in art and development trends of the main Museum of the country and sets the following goals - education of the public and the formation of favorable atmosphere for the development of Russian contemporary art and its positioning on the international scene.
Selected projects:
2006 — «The Education of Cupid. French prints of the gallant century in the collection of the State Hermitage»
2007 — «USA today. Choice of Charles Saatchi». Curator
2008 — «Chuck Close: seven portraits». Curator
2009-2010 — «Newspeak. British art now.» Curator.
2011 — «Dmitry Prigov: Dmitry Prigov». 54th Venice biennale of Fine art. Curator.
2012-2013 — «Jake and Dinos Chapman. End of fun». Curator
2013 — «Utopia and Reality. El Lissitzky, Ilya and Emilia Kabakovs». Curator
2013-2014 — «Mono No Aware. Beauty of Things. Japanese Contemporary Art». Curator
2014 — «Markus Lüpertz: Symbols and Metamorphoses». Curator
2014 — «Manifesta 10». Exhibition. Commissioner.
2015 — «Glasstress 2015 Gotika» 56th Venice biennale of Fine art. Curator.
2015-2016 — «Steve Mccurry. The Unguarded Moment». Curator
2016 — «Realisms». Curator
2016-2017 — «Jan Fabre: Knight of Despair / Warrior of Beauty». Curator
Education and professional activities:
Graduated from the Saint Petersburg State University.
Traineeship in Berlin, Paris, London, New-York, Jerusalem, Williamstown, Fribourg.
PhD in Aesthetics.
The keeper of the French print of the XV—XVIII centuries from the State Hermitage museum since 1999.
Head of Contemporary Art Department of the State Hermitage museum since 2007.
Head of “Hermitage 20/21” project since 2007.
The commissioner of the “Manifesta 10” project.
Member of the Expert Council of the Russian investment art rating 49ART.