About ORTA

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ORTA is an art group consisting of Alexandra Morozova (b. 1982) and Rustem Begenov (b. 1983), based in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

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ORTA undertakes a rigorous examination of past and present, addressing fundamental questions of existence and the structure of the world while consciously rejecting established critical frameworks. Building on the legacy of Kazakh artist and inventor Sergey Kalmykov (1891–1967), they have developed the Theory of the New Genius, a practice through which they produce theater works, performances, installations, sound, visual and video projects, workshops, lectures, and large-scale Planetary Projects—inventing both the artistic forms and the language needed to explore and articulate the questions at the heart of their work.

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ORTA’s work has been presented internationally across museums, biennials, festivals, and contemporary art platforms. Their projects and commissions have been realized at the 59th Venice Biennale (Kazakhstan National Pavilion), the 13th Seoul Mediacity Biennale, La MaMa ETC (New York), Meyerhold Center (Moscow), Voices Festival (Berlin), NET–New European Theatre Festival, and other international venues. ORTA’s work has been documented and discussed in major catalogues and publications, including those of the Venice Biennale and Seoul Mediacity Biennale, as well as in e-flux Journal, Artnet News, The Art Newspaper, Elephant, The Telegraph, a.o.

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Their current Planetary Project, The Great Atomic Bombreflector, confronts the enduring impact of forty years of nuclear testing in Kazakhstan known as Atomic Inhumanity.

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Selected projects: ​

2025 The New Genius Experience of The Great Atomic Bombreflector, The 13th Seoul Mediacity Biennale, Seoul, KR

2024 Spectacular Experiments on The Great Atomic Bombreflector, La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club,

New York City, USA

2022 LAI-PI-CHU-PLEE-LAPA Center for the New Genius, Kazakhstan pavilion, 59th Venice Biennale, Venice, IT

2018 large-scale technological mystery Svetoprestavleniye Sergey Kalmykov, NEW DRAMA-2018 festival headliner, nomination to Kuryokhin Gran-prix award, Moscow, RU

2016 Pop-mechanical performance "Medea.Material" co-production with Goethe-Institute, NET-2016 festival participant, nomination to Kuryokhin Gran-prix award, Moscow, RU