Undark Ages: Tales of Medievalism and Academia

A mediated tour about how our perceptions of the modern world are influenced by the ideas and artistic forms of previous eras.

English-language mediated tours of GES-2 House of Culture typically take place on weekdays.

To learn more about group tours or to request one, please email* us at mediationcalls@v-a-c.org.

Why do many regard Classical antiquity as synonymous with the greatest achievements in the history of art, while the Middle Ages are viewed as a period of decline? How do myths of the past shape our attitude toward the present and future, and what explains the popularity of the fantasy genre, role-playing games, fashion shows inspired by knightly armour, Neoclassical architecture, and memes about the Roman Empire?

Timur Novikov. Amor and Psyche, 1993. A family heirloom

Undark Ages: Tales of Medievalism and Academia is an exhibition that examines the cultures of two eras—Classical antiquity, which influenced the rise of academism and common notions of high art, and the Middle Ages, whose social and aesthetic models remain relevant in the era of digital technologies, mass culture, and global challenges.

During the mediated tour, we will discuss the different ways in which artists and thinkers have approached this intellectual and artistic legacy—from imitation to ironic and critical reinterpretation.

Official partner of the GES-2 House of Culture mediation programmе.

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