Thaddaeus Ropac Salzburg presents a selection of historic works by pioneering conceptual artists Ilya and Emilia Kabakov. The exhibition covers paintings by Ilya Kabakov, dating from 2005 to 2015, and installations from the Kabakovs’ collaborative practice, which spanned 1989 to Ilya’s passing in 2023. Every installation presented is a meticulously arranged composition of objects, artworks, texts, lighting, and sound, designed to fully envelop the viewer in the experience, echoing the idea of the ‘total installation’ that has been central to their practice. The artists’ works allow for multiple interpretations, spanning political innuendos, personal fears and desires, as well as a longing to escape the harsh, at times unbearable, realities of daily life.

Watch a video of Emilia Kabakov speaking about the exhibition here.