#15 Cosmism

Manifestation #15: Cosmism presents a selection of films by John Akomfrah, Saodat Ismailova, and Viktor Vasylenko. The program explores cosmic musical forms and the (philosophical) potential of space, science fiction, immortality, and infinity. At the beginning of the evening curators Rita Ouédraogo and Robbie Schweiger provide an introduction.

Manifestation #15: Cosmism provides a teaser for the exhibition Cosmism: Images from a Future Gathering opening in January 2024 at Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam.

Frédérique Albert-Bordenave developed the spatial design of Manifestation #15: Cosmism.

Saodat Ismailova is a filmmaker and artist who lives between Tashkent and Paris. Her work engages with the invisible foundations of Central Asia. Through her practice she reveals her keen eye for local myths, religious rituals, and spiritual notions. For her film-in-progress Fear, Ismailova embarks on a search for immortality through music from the Eurasian steppe.

In his practice, British Ghanaian filmmaker and artist John Akomfrah engages with memory and postcolonialism, and often explores the experiences of migrant diasporas. His cinematic essay The Last Angel of History interlaces science fiction, space travel, technology, futuristic Black musical forms, and thinking on Afro-Diasporic subjectivities beyond planet Earth.

Commissioned by the public broadcaster of 1990s independent Ukraine, director Viktor Vasylenko created an experimental poetic portrait of Ukrainian artist and cosmist philosopher Fedir Tetianych. Images of Tetianych and his work are interspersed with a hypnosis session, in which contact is made with the cosmos.

Manifestation #15: Cosmism, provides a teaser for the exhibition Cosmism: Images from a Future Gathering opening in January 2024 at Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam.

Frédérique Albert-Bordenave developed the spatial design.

text by Rita Ouédraogo and Robbie Schweiger

Tijdens Museumnacht presenteren we in de Buro Stedelijk Central Space een selectie films van John Akomfrah, Saodat Ismailova en Viktor Vasylenko. Het programma onderzoekt kosmische muzikale vormen en het (filosofische) potentieel van ruimte, sciencefiction, onsterfelijkheid en oneindigheid.

Manifestation #15: Cosmism presenteert een selectie films van John Akomfrah, Saodat Ismailova en Viktor Vasylenko. Het programma onderzoekt kosmische muzikale vormen en het (filosofische) potentieel van ruimte, sciencefiction, onsterfelijkheid en oneindigheid.

Curatoren Rita Ouédraogo en Robbie Schweiger verzorgen om 19.30 uur een inleiding.

Wij presenteren de volgende films:

Saodat Ismailova, video-sketch from  Fear, 2022-ongoing
Viktor Vasylenko, The Neverending Eye of Fripulya (Fedir Tetianych), 1994
John Akomfrah, The Last Angel of History, 1995

Manifestation #15: Cosmism biedt een teaser voor de tentoonstelling “Cosmism: Images from a Future Gathering” die in januari 2024 opent in Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam.

Frédérique Albert-Bordenave ontwikkelde het ruimtelijk ontwerp dat te zien is tijdens Manifestation #15: Cosmism.

Entrance with Museumnacht Amsterdam ticket /
Toegang met Museumnacht Amsterdam ticket
November 4, 19:00 – 02:00
Location: Central Space
Entrance: Museumplein 10 

banner image: Saodat Ismailova, video-sketch from the film-in-progress Foundation of Substance, 2022-ongoing. Courtesy of the artist.