Alexander Brener: biography, exhibitions, publications

He is spoken of as a madman who does not know the measures, a creator with a shiza, a freak with strange habits. He is called a radical poet, a scumbag, a hooligan, a brawler, and also a master of performance. All this is Alexander Brener. And yet it is a free artist, poet, leader of Moscow actionism and a writer. Himself our hero calls himself a political activist, whose views are not understood by everyone. More on this chaotic character with an extraordinarily radical view of public life is told further.

A few words about birth and homeland

Strangely enough, but it is in decent and cultured families that the most scandalous individuals are born. Perhaps the reason for all certain prohibitions and rules, which due to circumstances they are obliged to comply. However, over time, reluctance to obey them grows into a real protest, which is often brought to public view. A striking example of this is Alexander Brener. His biography begins with birth in 1957. The artist and writer was born in one of the Soviet hospitals in Alma-Ata.

The parents of the free artist were a teacher of Russian literature and a professor. They adhered to strict rules of morality, did not like to stand out among others and considered themselves a worthy unit of society. But Alexander Brener did not follow in their footsteps. On the contrary, from the very childhood inside of him, literally, there was a feeling of protest, which he had tried to restrain for the time being. Later, he succumbed to the will of emotions, which over the edge would let out.

The first contact with subtle art

For the first time with art Alexander Braner collided at the age of seven. At this time he managed to see the work of Sergei Ivanovich Kalmykov, who painted from one of the streets of Alma-Ata from nature. At the time, it was said that this man was not just a painter, but also a kind of fashion designer, as he personally altered the costumes for himself from the theater studio. Because of this, they were too bright and unlike the others. As Alexander Brener would later write about him, it was their fateful meeting that changed the worldview of the hero and made him look at the world completely different eyes.

Getting an education

After graduating from high school Alexander Brener (artist And master of scandalous art ) entered the Kazakh Pedagogical Institute named after Abay. Here he graduated from the Faculty of Philology, which predicted his career as a teacher, educator or teacher. But no, such prospects did not suit our hero at all. He always wanted more.

However, following the instructions of his mother, in 1978 he nevertheless entered the Leningrad State Pedagogical Institute named after Herzen at the Faculty of Philology. However, the path of the philologist was never chosen by our Alexander Brener. An architect with this name, but a double "nn" in the surname, by the way, unlike this hero went in the footsteps of relatives. As a result, in 1990, he created his own company in Stuttgart and today pleases its customers with unique and most appropriate appearance of the city mansions. In general, unlike the successful namesake, our Brenner deviated completely into another channel, not bringing a special profit.

A cardinal turn in life and departure to Israel

After graduation, he could not find a job for a long time. He always did not like something. And it is possible that our hero could not find himself. After hopeless searches, as well as from lack of money and boredom, he temporarily moves to Israel. It was here that Alexander Brener (artist) Organizes one of his first exhibitions. In 1989, it takes place in the House of Artists (Jerusalem). At this time, the so-called group exhibition was organized, in which young talents from different countries took part. Exactly one year later a similar exhibition was held in the Dead-end Gallery (Tel-Aviv).

Work in the weekly "Running Time" and the first chaotic feelings

During his stay in Israel, Alexander Brener, whose photo can be found in this article, managed not only to work, but also to gain a pretty unenviable fame. So, at first he got the position of one of the journalists of the scandalous weekly "Running Time". There he was considered one of the leading art critics and led his information column.

And everything seems to be working out for him, but something again was not enough. And this something literally gnawed and bothered our creative personality. Sometimes artists and poets are very difficult to understand. It was difficult to assess the sanity and deeds of a person who presents each of his actions as a scandal. By the way, as it turned out, it was a kind of art that enjoyed immense popularity abroad.

The earliest performances of the hero

At one point this indescribable and chaotic feeling inspired our hero to conduct an unusual action. His creation, he called "The Great Beggar Ku Klux Klan." The action, in which the future wife of the artist Lyudmila and their mutual friend Roman Baembayev took part, took place at noon. It consisted in the following:

• At the corner of Dizengoff and Frishman Streets in Tel Aviv (where there was a small bookstore), three participants brought a large box (dimensions: 87 x 75 x 240 cm).
• The box was wrapped with wrapping paper and made small holes in it.
• Inside the box was placed Alexander.
• Roman Baembayev sat down on a small bench next to him.
• Near him put a hat, where symbolically lay one small paper bill and a little trifle.
• Lyudmila was engaged in photographing this public performance and stood aside.

In total Alexander Brener, verses Who was as creative as himself, was in the box for one hour and forty minutes. Most of the time he simply stood there silently and did not make any sounds. And in the last 20 minutes he jumped, shook the box, beat it with his hands and made strange screams. It is not known how much time this would have lasted, if not for the casual passer-by. Apparently, not appreciated all the charm of scandalous art the young man went to the box and tore it up. Alexander freed himself, collected spare parts from his imprisonment and together with the other participants silently went to the exit.

Demonstrative performance of a strange trinity

No sooner had residents of Tel Aviv come to their senses from the previous masterpiece performance, as they were waiting for a new surprise. This time the creative trio went to the corner of Dizengoff and Gordon Streets. It was about 11 o'clock in the afternoon. In the hands of the participants were stools and folded banners. Reaching the final destination, the men sat down on the stools, and the lady remained standing. At the same time, they simultaneously launched posters on which the inscription: "Do not forget the Italian pilots!"

After a while Lyudmila took pastel crayons of the brand "Panda" and began to paint them, painting the ears of their companions in the colors of the Italian flag. Then the strange trio shifted and went out to the very middle of the road along Dizengoff Street. After this, Roman Baembayev seated Alexander on his shoulders, and Lyudmila went alongside. So they moved, periodically changing places, and carried each other to the very center of Dizengoff Street.

Action in honor of writer Andrei Monastyrsky

An outrageous scandal was remembered for the unusual action of Roman Baembayev and Alexander Brener. It was dedicated to the famous Russian writer and poet, art theorist and freelance artist Andrei Monastyrsky. Two participants arrived by car in the morning to Dizengoff Square. With them they had a large yellow banner, the size of which was 1 x 12 m. The following numbers were written on it: 48613970 2258 40023 614 783420945. How did Andrei Monastyrsky connect with them and what did the participants want to express in this way? This can only be guessed. However, a banner hung high between the trees was shot by furious people from the local municipality in Tel Aviv. They say that he managed to hang only 5 hours.

According to the representatives of the municipality, this was an outrageous action, which aroused the indignation of the authorities. And the whole point is that the aforementioned figures were interpreted as numbers on the clothes of prisoners who were on campus during the Holocaust.

Return and active work in Moscow

After 1990, Brener Alexander Davidovich decides to return to Moscow. Here he manifests himself not only as an artist, but also as a poet, theorist and cultural critic. And it is possible that in Tel Aviv he was simply fed up with his antics, or someone did not appreciate the scandalous art of our author. In a word, he returned and, having gained a little strength, resumed his activities that were by no means all understandable.

So, with his participation, the members of the "ETI" group and Anatoly Osmolovsky make an unforgettable performance right before the Lenin Mausoleum. There they undress themselves and their bodies spread an indecent word of three letters. Brener actively visits exhibitions and other events, which often comes in the company of the artist Kulik, who is held in a muzzle or leads on a leash. Here is such a creative and unpredictable Alexander Brener. "The lives of murdered artists" - one of his early creations, which we will discuss below.

What are we talking about in the Lives?

In his work, which Alexander Brener called "The lives of murdered artists", he describes himself, shares his thoughts and talks about all his friends in the art environment. At the same time, he literally scoffs at them, makes caustic comments and even gives them offensive nicknames. For example, he calls Dmitry Gutov "Progressive Purgen", Anatoly Osmolovsky - "Chairman of Revbazar", Bakshtein - "Diaper of Groys", etc. Here he also describes the authors who have passed away. He compares their ideal creations with the "mediocre works" of their followers from the present day.

In this book, some names and names of artists are intentionally written with a small letter. At the same time, between obvious attacks of the author on representatives of the fine, less often of the writer's art, he gives efficient advice. Also in some chapters of the story, he describes in great detail the young and young Osmolovsky. Describes his cheap and dirty apartment, an eternally drunken cohabitee and hedges on the way to glory.

Eternal protest and a few words about scandalous art

Alexander Brener himself about the scandal in art speaks clearly and unequivocally. Its task is to draw attention to one or another problem, which everyone has forgotten. For example, one of the scandalous and simultaneously memorable events was the action that our hero arranged in early January 1996. He conducted it at the building of the Belarusian embassy, whose windows were cast and poured with ketchup. The reason for such a show was an event that took place because of the uncoordinated actions of the Polish and Belarusian governments. In particular, when the festival of air vehicles took place in Poland, one of the balloons participating in the show lost its way and accidentally found itself in the heavenly space of Belarus.

Representatives of the same country, not having clarified to the end all the details of the incident, opened fire on the balloon. At the same time as the main version of the theme was put forward with spy scouts. Here are just two pilots from Poland died on the spot. Without expressing a shadow of doubt in their rightness, the Belarusian authorities simply ignored this event.

They did not even bring their condolences to the families and friends of the deceased. This was extremely outrageous to Brener, who honestly expected a reaction exactly three days. In hopes of drawing public attention to this tragic event, our artist also raided the embassy. As a result, he was imprisoned, and already at that time his wife Lyudmila had to settle the issue of his release. Soon Alexander Brener was released. Malevich, or rather his picture - is associated with another scandal, which was also endowed with a certain meaning. About him we'll talk further.

Brener's action in the museum and incident with the painting by Malevich

The most famous action of Brenner took place in Stedelijk Museum (Amsterdam) in the beginning of 1997. Under the guise of an ordinary visitor, our author went to an exhibition where the works of the famous artist Malevich were presented. Walking around the hall, Alexander went to the canvas, which was called "Suprematism. White cross on a gray background. " Unexpectedly for everyone, he took a bottle of green paint from his pocket and quickly put a dollar sign on the picture. However, he did not even try to hide anywhere.

In this way, Brener showed his protest and spoke against making money on art objects. At the same time to the author of the brawler had no complaints. On the contrary, he chose his paintings, since initially Malevich himself was poor. Later, his work turned into one of the commercial products, which are happily presented to advertisers of the public.

Vandalism with the work of Malevich: consequences

After the scandalous trial, the painting was restored, and the participant was banned from approaching the museum building for two years. By the way, the creative worker was put in jail for 5 months and given as many more conditional. According to his closest acquaintances, thus the radical artist decided in one fell swoop his apartment issue. According to their stories, he had nothing to pay for a rented apartment. In addition, his wife recently left him. But it was she who sponsored his scandalous antics.

While behind bars, our author received a notice from the museum, where he was offered to compensate for all of the $ 10,000 that was spent on the restoration of the spoiled painting of Malevich. To earn the compensation of this amount he succeeded by writing a small diary of the prisoner, where he described his everyday life, reported on the recent riot not covered in the media. He sold it to several editions, and transferred the money to the museum's account.

This is how the wayward information Alexander Brener conveyed to the society. "The first glove" is the name of one more performance, which the author made right on Red Square. As it was, we will describe below.

Action in gloves on Red Square

Alexander came to the square in sports shorts and boxing gloves. According to eyewitnesses, about 15 minutes in this form the artist went from side to side and shouted: "Yeltsin, come out!" Then he was arrested and after a long conversation was released. The essence of the action, as the detainee explains, is to demand direct democracy. The voter, according to the artist, must have full access to his chosen one.

Book of Alexander Brener and Barbara Schurz "Bombastika": publications

During his scandalous sorties into people, Brenner managed to write the following works:

• "Bonanase."
• "Buto's Secret Life."
• "Manifesto".
• "The Japanese God."
• "Super Vasya" and others.

In this case, as a rule, his books were published in co-authorship with other writers and authors. Most often, together with him appeared the name of a certain Barbara Schurz. For example, both authors wrote a work "Bombastika", whose presentation also went through with a scandal. But that's another story ...