Anton Vidokle

16 March 2021

Anton Vidokle: Cosmist Aesthetics

Beginning in 2013, Anton Vidokle has been working on a series of films on and about the philosophy of Russian Cosmism. To date, this series includes the film trilogy Immortality for All, as well as Citizens of the Cosmos and Autotrofia, with several more yet to be made. Part historical research and part scripted fiction, these films evoke central desires of cosmism–rejuvenation, emancipation, universalism and transformation of living and dead matter–and enact them in the context of ordinary life in various parts of Russia, Japan, Ukraine, Italy, and other locations. Employing a diverse cast of characters including amateur and professional actors, taxi drivers, museum guards, artists, farmers, scientists, dancers, librarians and many others, these films often function as educational experiments, both for participants as well as the eventual audience.

Required Viewings:

Cinema page of the Institute of the Cosmos, where Anton’s films are accessible: https://www.cosmos.art/cinema

Required Reading:

e-flux journal on Cosmism: https://www.e-flux.com/journal/88/ 

Cosmism book.

Anton Vidokle is an artist and editor of e-flux journal. He was born in Moscow and lives in New York and Berlin. Vidokle’s work has been exhibited internationally at Documenta 13 and the 56th Venice Biennale. Vidokle’s films have been presented at Bergen Assembly, Shanghai Biennale, the 65th and 66th Berlinale International Film Festival, Forum Expanded, Gwangju Biennale, Center Pompidou, Tate Modern, Garage Museum, Istanbul Biennial, Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Tensta Konsthall, Blaffer Art Museum, Stedelijk Museum, and others.