Photo by Darya Jumelya, Andrea Avezzu

Concept: Rustem Begenov and Alexandra Morozova

Curation: Alexandra Morozova, Rustem Begenov, Alexandr Bakanov, Darya Jumelya, Sabina Kuangaliyeva

Participants: Alexandra Morozova, Rustem Begenov, Alexandr Bakanov, Darya Jumelya, Sabina Kuangaliyeva

Production: ORTA

Creative producer: Alexandra Morozova

Producer: Rustem Begenov

Commissioner: Meruyert Kaliyeva

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The Universal Project by ORTA for the first ever Kazakhstan's national pavilion at the 59th Venice Biennale dedicated to Kazakhstani artist, writer, inventor, and Genius of the Absolute Interplanetary Category Sergey Kalmykov (1891-1967). The project featured turning the entire space of the pavilion into the Center for the New Genius consisting of installations and works by ORTA members and their collaborators from all walks of life and backgrounds from Kazakhstan. The exhibition included the Sacred Expositions project by Alexandra Morozova, Pyramidal Photoiconostasis by Darya Jumelya, Generator of Genius by Rustem Begenov and Alexandr Bakanov, New Genius Yurt by Alexandra Morozova and Sabina Kuangaliyeva, New Genius Robotics by Alexandr Bakanov and Rustem Begenov.

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Articles​​

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"HOW DO YOU TRANSFER AN ENTIRE COUNTRY TO THE FOURTH DIMENSION? THIS IS A TASK" (en)

The following is a conversation between artists Arseny Zhilyaev and Rustem Begenov (ORTA Collective) about the first National Pavilion of Kazakhstan at the 59th Venice Biennale and its agenda of "the New Genius," a school of thought based on the life and art of the avant-garde artist Sergey Kalmykov (1891-1967), who lived in Almaty. The core topic of the conversation is ORTA Collective’s elaboration of Kalmykov’s "event," which breaks out of traditional rules, hierarchies, and values in life and art. Their pop-up installation created for the Centre for the New Genius in Venice was an improvisational response to the impossibility of receiving the intended installation on time due to the logistical collapse caused by Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The idea behind the ORTA Collective’s challenge is as follows: "not a product that we advertised, but only an advertisement of how people can interact creatively and create such projects. And this interaction is also just an advertisement for something that lies even deeper."

Sep 2022, Arseny Zhilyaev and Rustem Begenov, Cosmic Bulletin

Постгуманизм и ORTA на Венецианской биеннале (ru)

Как проект казахстанского коллектива ORTA соотносится с главной темой одного из главных художественных событий 2022 года

17 Jun 2022, Dmitry Mazorenko, Vlast.kz

Venice Biennale 2022 Roundup (en)

This year’s citywide jamboree features riot and revolution, gyrating bodies, battling jet planes, burning fountains and an exhibition for prisoners’ eyes only 

14 Jun 2022, Joe Lloyd, Studio International

Das kasachische Abenteuer in Venedig (de)

Die Organisation des ersten nationalen Pavillons Kasachstans auf der 59. Biennale in Venedig hat unter den Ereignissen in der Ukraine gelitten. So kamen unter anderem die Materialien nicht rechtzeitig an. Das ORTA Collective hielt dies jedoch nicht davon ab, temporäre Strukturen zu bauen. Der komplett montierte Pavillon wurde am 17. Mai wiedereröffnet. Alexandra Morosowa, Rustem Begenow, Darya Jumelya, Alexandr Bakanow und Sabina Kuangaliyewa vom ORTA Collective erzählen über die zurückliegenden Herausforderungen und die heutige Atmosphäre im Pavillon.

13 Jun 2022, Irina Radu, Deutsche Allgemeine Zeitung

Looking at the countries debuting with a National Pavilion at Venice Art Biennale 2022 (en)

While Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan set up their first-ever National Pavilion; Cameroon, Namibia, Nepal, Oman & Uganda are the first time participants at the biennale.

11 Jun 2022, Dilpreet Bhullar, STIR world

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ORTA's "LAI-PI-CHU-PLEE-LAPA Centre for the New Genius" (en)

Organized by the transdisciplinary ORTA collective and based on the writings of Kazakhstani artist, writer, and inventor Sergey Kalmykov (1891–1967), the Kazakhstan Pavilion at this year's Venice Biennale comprises immersive scenography made from the simplest materials.

10 Jun 2022, Inga Lāce, e-flux Criticism

Venice Biennale 2022: are artists from undemocratic countries different? (en)

With the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the distinction between democratic countries seems to have become more decisive than ever for the destiny of humanity. However, the distinction is not so clear-cut. Even supposedly undemocratic countries, for example, maintain excellent relations with democratic ones, if useful for their strategies.

18 May 2022, Valerio Romitelly, Juliet Contemporary Art Magazine

Субъективный гид по Венецианской биеннале-2022 от Саши Загребельной (ru)

3 May 2022, Sasha Zagrebalnaya, locals.md

Казахстан в Венеции (ru)

В этом году на одной из самых престижных художественных выставок мира, Венецианской биеннале, у Казахстана впервые будет свой национальный павильон. Почему это так важно, чем мы поразим мир и чему удивимся сами?

1 May 2022, Kseniya Evdokimenko, Tengri

The ORTA Collective on Representing Kazakhstan at the 59th Venice Biennale (en)

The ORTA collective, founded in 2015 by director Rustem Begenov and actress Alexandra Morozova, is representing Kazakhstan, marking the country’s first participation in the biennale.

15 Apr 2022, ArtReview

Venice Biennale 2022: 15 national pavilions on our radar (en)

Transdisciplinary collective ORTA (Alexandra Morozova, Rustem Begenov, Darya Jumelya, Alexandr Bakanov and Sabina Kuangaliyeva) will dedicate their pavilion exhibition to the life and work of Almaty artist, writer and inventor Sergey Kalmykov (1891-1967).

12 Apr 2022, Harried Lloyd-Smith, Wallpaper*

GRIOT Guide To The Venice Biennale | Asian And Australian Pavilions (en)

Returning a year later than planned due to the ongoing pandemic, the 59th edition of the International Art Exhibition in Venice runs from 23rd April to 27th November 2022. More than 200 artists will participate under the theme The Milk of Dreams, directed by Italian curator Cecilia Alemani.

11 Apr 2022, Anna Milano Brandalise, GRIOT

The Best of Venice Biennale 2022 (en)

08 Apr 2022, Isabella Damrongkul, the artling

Previews: National Participations at the 59th Venice Biennale (en)

A look at what countries from across Asia-Pacific are presenting at the upcoming edition.

30 Mar 2020, ArtAsiaPacific

Kasachstan: ORTA (de/en)

Kazakhstan is showing its own pavilion at the Biennale for the first time.

Mar 2022, Monopol

A Guide to the 2022 Venice Biennale National Pavilions, From Futuristic Gardens to AI-Influenced Performance Art (en)

Kazakhstan: Orta Collective.

3 Mar 2022, Alex Greenberger, ARTnews

Венецианская биеннале. Скандалы. Интриги. Расследования (ru)

На 59-й Венецианской биеннале, которая будет проходить с 23 апреля по 27 ноября 2022 года, Казахстан представит арт-коллектив ORTA и некий загадочный проект, связанный с именем Сергея Калмыкова.

9 Feb 2022, Olga Zorina, mk.kz

Kazakhstan to Open Its First Pavilion At Biennale Art 2022 International Art Exhibition (en)

A transdisciplinary collective called ORTA, whose project is based on ideas of legendary avant-garde artist from Almaty Sergei Kalmykov (1891-1967), will represent Kazakhstan.

6 Feb 2022, The Astana Times

Первый павильон Казахстана в Венеции (en)

Казахстан на 59-й Венецианской биеннале, которая открывается в этом апреле, будет представлять трансдисциплинарный коллектив ORTA, чей проект основан на идеях легендарного алма-атинского художника Сергея Калмыкова (1891–1967).

3 Feb 2022, arterritory.com

On display (en)

Kazakhstan hopes to present its inaugural Venice Biennale pavilion at the 59th International Art Exhibition, which begins on 23 April.

2 Feb 2022, Monocle

Kazakhstan Will Make Its Debut at the Upcoming Venice Biennale (en)

For the first time in the nation’s history, Kazakhstan will represent itself at the upcoming Venice Biennale, the prestigious art exhibition announced today. Commissioned by the curator Meruyert Kaliyeva, the Kazakhstan presentation will include contributions from the transdisciplinary collective ORTA, which was founded in 2015 by Rustem Begenov and Alexandra Morozova.

1 Feb 2022, Helen Holmes, Observer

After a False Start in 2019, Kazakhstan Has Announced Plans for Its First-Ever Venice Biennale Pavilion (en)

The country’s Venice pick, the art collective ORTA, was founded in 2015 by director Rustem Begenov and actor Alexandra Morozova. They will consider the work of surrealist avant-garde artist and inventor Sergey Kalmykov who, despite dying in obscurity, was hugely influential to contemporary artists in and around Kazakhstan.

1 Feb 2022, Artnet News

Organised ‘under gunfire’, Kazakhstan announces first national Venice pavilion—but will it actually go ahead this time? (en)

This year’s commissioner hopes the absence of government funding might help them avoid the disaster of the nation's 2019 pavilion, which was cancelled amid “corruption” allegations

1 Feb 2022, Kabir Jhala, The Art Newspaper

Снимите это немедленно! (ru)

Интригу сохраняли до последнего: будущие участники Венецианской биеннале приветствовали журналистов… в коробках, скрывающих лица.

01 Feb 2022, Kseniya Evdokimenko, Time.kz

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