The Art of AES+F: Epic 21st-Century Aesthetics in Baroque Excess

AES+F is one of the most unusual and influential Russian art groups. Formed in the late 1980s, they have transcended the boundaries of conventional visual art, fusing photography, video, installations, and sculpture. Their works are grandiose yet disturbing epic narratives that refract the contradictions of contemporary global culture, media, and mythology.

The art group's strange name is easily deciphered. It consists of the first letters of its members. Artists Tatyana Arzamasova, Lev Evzovich, and Evgeny Svyatsky (AES) first joined forces in 1987. In 1995, photographer Vladimir Fridkes joined them. Since then, the group has been known as AES+F.

The art group works at the intersection of photography, digital technology, video, and 3D animation. Their large-scale projects "Last Riot," "Islamic Project," and "The Feast of Trimalchio" are veritable 21st-century frescoes, spectacular and provocative. They blend antiquity with pop culture, and glamour with farce.

Since its founding, the art group has held over 40 solo exhibitions in Russia, the United States, and Europe. The artists were finalists for the 2007 Kandinsky Prize in the "Artist of the Year" category and were longlisted for the 2010 Kandinsky Prize in the "Project of the Year" category. They won the 2012 Kandinsky Prize in the "Project of the Year" category.

Even today, as digital art evolves faster than ever, AES+F's work continues to spark heated debates, ranging from admiration to outright rejection. What do you think of their aesthetics? Is it a provocation for art's sake or an accurate reflection of the contemporary world?