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Welcoming remarks
WINZAVOD Centre for contemporary art is one-of-a-kind venue representing the diversity of contemporary culture. First of all, WINZAVOD infrastructure is focused on support and development of Russian contemporary art, which is at the height of popularity. However until recently there was shortage of space, where general audience could do an exhibition of contemporary art.
The world experience shows that the most successful art-spots were the former industrial facilities transformed to workshops by artists. And previously abandoned areas became fancy that have allowed solving many other questions: involved districts' appearance has become better; new places of interest have sprung there; real estate property value has raised. Such centres are essential of modern metropolises. There are Leipzig Spinnerei, Zurich Lowenbrau, Berlin Kunst-Werke, New-York Chelsea, London Tate Modern, Stockholm centre Fargfabriken among them.
Being inspired by world experience, we were hipped on building up first private art-territory in old Moscow industrial area to concentrate the best art resources of the city (galleries, studios, showrooms, art agencies) and to join people who made all the difference in contemporary art at the same place.
Nobody could say for sure if it is in-demand or not at the start. But being close to centre of the city private territory, tailor-made spaces and full complex of services for any kind of events lead the district to keep the rhythm of WINZAVOD's living. Art is a lifestyle here, and that's why you would feel like coming back as often as possible.
Sofia Trotsenko
Head of project
WINZAVOD Centre for Contemporary art
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WINZAVOD - Moscow Centre for Contemporary Art
Art in Russia - especially contemporary art - is experiencing an unprecedented boom. It is reinventing itself, rapidly changing, and using new techniques and technologies. The vitality and high quality of Russian contemporary art is creating new demand among Russian collectors and the business community and establishing itself around the world. But there are still few spaces in Russia where contemporary art can be well exhibited to art lovers and collectors. Inspired by the world practice of reclaiming former warehouses and factories, we decided to transform an old winery into a private cultural center to house in one place the country's leading galleries, the best exhibition spaces, and the most cutting edge arts organizations. At first we just hoped that there would be some interest in our center. But this was a rare case of reality surpassing our dreams. The idea of a common space for art was so timely and compelling that the entire neighborhood began to change to complement the art center. Art slipped out the doors and something unique happened: an art district finally appeared in Moscow.
We opened in early 2007, but already the words "an exhibition at Winzavod" are synonymous with excitement and quality in the art world. And this is only the beginning.
The Winzavod Art District
Located only 15 minutes by car from the heart of Russia - the Kremlin - this former winery is now the heart of the country's burgeoning contemporary art scene. Once filled with the intoxicating aroma of wine, today it is filled with the heady excitement of creation where the new history of Russian art is being made.
Winzavod consists of seven buildings with a total space of 20,000 square meters (215,000 square feet) located on privately owned, gated property. Four of the country's most prestigious contemporary galleries moved here as soon as the space was open: XL, Aidan, M&J Guelman, and Regina. And five more galleries have recently opened: Proun, Atelier #2, ArtBerloga, Fotoloft Gallery, and Gallery.photographer.ru. Winzavod is also home to artists' studios, a photography studio, an advertising agency, an avant-garde clothing store, a styling school, an art supply store, a bookstore and a stylish art-cafe.
Designed as an art-cluster, WINZAVOD Centre for Contemporary art concentrates the best art resources of the city creating conceptually new art environment attractive for wide audience. Such centres are considered as an integral part of modern culture life of many metropolises.
WINZAVOD infrastructure allows visitors taking pleasure by attending art exhibitions, events and master classes along with shopping and visiting art-cafe. With the exception of special events entrance to WINZAVOD is free for everybody.
Our visitors are representatives of the art-world (artists, art-dealers, critics), professionals in advertising, design, PR, TV, etc., students, tourists and everybody who is interested in contemporary culture.
Top priorities for WINZAVOD Centre for Contemporary art are the following:
- arranging and holding of personal exhibitions;
- curatorial projects;
- educational programs (monthly course of different spheres of modern culture);
- All-Russian open annual project "Best of Russia";
- charity programs;
- patronage of young artists (venue for young artists START).
Having unique aura exhibition halls and areas of WINZAVOD are ideal for holding not only exhibitions but different culture events of any kind.
WINZAVOD regularly holds festivals and different educational courses, such as modern art, cinematograph, architecture and design as well as charity events. Close co-operation allows to establish connection between different communities, generations and styles.
WINZAVOD is open for cooperation.
Winzavod Centre for Contemporary Art
4-th Syromyatnicheskiy lane, 1, bld. 6, Moscow, Russia
Phone: +7 (495) 917 46 46
E-mail: winzavod@gmail.com
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History of WINZAVOD
Winery
"Vine draws out life-giving juice from the land. Grapevine takes solar energy from outer space. But only human hands can transform this gift of nature into the sparkling drink - grape wine". Oldest Moscow winery was founded in 1889 by merchants Travnikov, produced its own fruity wine and bottled grape wines from Crimea and Caucasus. In the Soviet times winery had created a greater product mix: the plant and produced up to 170 deciliters of ordinary and brand wines. But it was famous of its own production: fruit wine, aromatized and dry wines of "Xeres" type. At 70-s the winery had been restructured, had been installed import equipment, which works till nowadays and produces unique production: dry and strong brand and ordinary wines, proprietary products "Evening", "Moscow", "Imperial" brandy, bitter medical liqueurs "Ginseng", "Rodiola", white vermouth "Extra", made by Italian technology. Today the winery developed the manufacture of dessert wines "Felicita" (red and rose), "Cranberry", "Cherry", "Raspberry", "Amadetto" (close to the famous "Amaretto" by taste).
Reminiscences of Galina Dmitrievna Pleshkova - former Director of Moscow winery - sound like Persian lyric poetry, vermouth "Extra" tastes like an ambrosia and bitter "Rodiola" like magic nectar. Whereabouts are our sweetest sixteen with its first trying to smoke and to kiss a girl's lips with taste of "Amadetto" liqueur? Moscow winery of grape and dessert wines - had produced 4 mln deciliters a year - failed the battle with competitors. Long before this business association "Dmitriy Travnikov & sons" had made vodka by rule of thumb and sold short runs of wine from Georgia and Crimea.
Grand Duchess Volkonskaya house
 First owner of this large manor, located at the cross of Mruzovskiy and 4th Syromyatniki lanes, was captain of Preobraghensky Lifeguard regiment Melgunov, who sold it to his sibling Duchess Ekaterina Volkonskaya. Outstanding Moscow lady and owner of Sukhanovo demesne lands had got a nickname "aunty-warrior", because she had exercises dominant influence to her nephew field marshal, Kutuzov's executive officer Peter Volkonsky. For a wonder many decorative elements of the building survived, and the house itself externally unchanged. Totally fragged a century ago terrace is rebuilt now. You can see the house to the right from the entrance to WINZAVOD, its strong minimalist center is pointed out by beautiful portico, and there is distinguished semiround corbel.
 In 1805 the manor was bought by merchant Monin, four years later - by Nikifor Prokofiev, opened in 1810 brewery plant there. In the beginning of 1821 the manor had passed into ownership of merchant from Revel Fridrich Danielson, who added two-floored outhouse with brewery and malting to the house. On the other side of the lane was built a long malt storehouse. On the tympan of portico you can see fanciful ornamented monogram of his son Ludwig Fridrikhovich. Garden frontispiece is decorated in Empire style.
In forties the plant owned by merchants William Watson and Peter Dreier was the second in Moscow only to "Trekhgornaya": total production of beer value was made up 57 thousand rubles. In 1885 huge manor and plant passed into ownership of the famous merchant "King of lease" Vasiliy Alexandrovich Kokorev. He enriched by wine leasing, launched banking projects, founded several manufacturing companies and became one of the richest people in Russia. To the indignation of authorities Kokorev became a public figure, and they clipped his wings.
Kokorev collected paintings and was an art patron: there were more than 500 paintings in his gallery founded in 1861, which includes plating by Brullov, Levitskiy, Borovikovskiy, Kiprenskiy. Some of them were bought by Tretiyakov after Kokorev's bankruptcy. Sometime there was a plant of wax, pitches and stoppers belonged to Mamontov N. F.; this plant moved to Presnenskaya zastava Street in 1858 and started to produce dry oils.
Moscow Bavaria
 In the middle of XIX century west part of manor was separated by Moscow-Kursk railway line. Malt warehouse appeared to be at the corner of new lane and unexpectedly got a significant town-planning importance. Brewery occupied the whole north of the territory by its buildings. In seventies-eighties of XIX century the plant passed into ownership of "Moscow Bavaria" corporation (Russian brewery association in Moscow) belonged to brothers Ivan and Kirill Tarusin, owners of Pluschikha district. The plant was equipped by three steam engines with total power of 45 HP and was serviced by 70 workers. The brewery produced premium beer "Vienna pure #1" at a price 1,60 rouble per vedro. "Black velvet" beer was also famous.
In 1909 part of the manor was bought by executors of Ledentsov H. S. left all his assets under the will for educational purposes and main house was reconstructed for City College. By that time old manor significantly reduced its area: one part was separated by railway line, another part, close to Yauza embankment, was sold to other owner. Manager of the houses was Goloulin I. P. and that's why this house asa well as the district near the Yauza River was called "Goloulinka" by inhabitants.
 There is complex of philanthropic institutions dealt with the name of Gerasim Ivanovich Khludov across the Khludov lane (now Syromyatnicheskiy proezd, 6). Members of Khludov peasant family from Egorievsk were weaver craftsmen; all of them were adventurous, gumption and greatly ambitious. After the death of founder Ivan Ivanovich his sons got 200000 rubles and capitalize these means. Soon they could launch trading business in Moscow and in 1847 started to build cotton-mill in Egorievsk. This plant became one of the biggest mills in Moscow region.
Gerasim Khludov managed the manufacture along with his brother Alexey and became one of the richest people in Russia. In 1865 Khludovs set up an office in Liverpool, where were buying raw materials and steam engines. This office had been working for 40 years. In 1874 they founded "Limited partnership" with owners equity of 4 mln rubles, besides, this partnership was owned only by themselves and their relatives. Working day had been lasted for 14 hours for adults and 9 hrs for children. Lawlessness at Khludov manufacture case was processed by Saltykov-Schedrin. On the other side bloodsuckers Khludovs were charity providers and art-patrons. Just as Kokorev Khludov collected paintings - there were paintings by Fedotov (famous Difficult bride), Perov, Aivasovskiy, Brullov in his collection.
After premature death of his only son Pavel Khludov donated some hundreds of thousands roubles and huge area in Syromyatniki, bought especially for this purpose, for building a charity almshouse.
After the Khludov's death in 1885 Merchants association began to build from the willed assets large asylum house with chapel upon the project of Freidenberg B. V. It was opened in May 8, 1888. At the time 50 women, 30 men were settled in this asylum, and on 87 free flats were settled 150 widows with orphan children.
Khludov's daughters didn't stand aside from charitable housing at Syromyatniki as well: Alexandra Naidenova endowed a house with free flats, Lubov Vostryakova endowed free public college, Praskovia Prokhorova endowed hospital, free female vocational school and one more house of free flats (some of these buildings were built upon the project of famous Lev Kekushev). In the Soviet times Syromyatniki district was large industrial area and landside ghetto.
Vadim Alexeev
artBest-seller magazine
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Press on Winzavod
“The newest addition to Moscow’s
thriving contemporary art scene is
Vinzavod, a 200,000-square-foot
exhibition hall in an industrial
section behind the Kursk Railroad
Station. Though still a work in
progress, it is already attracting
some of the city’s most prominent
galleries. Imagine SoHo way back
when.”
The New York Times,
May 27, 2007
“Even though it is still being
renovated, Vinzavod has already
attracted buzz by hosting a
handful of well-attended events.”
The Moscow Times,
May 5, 2006
“This part of Moscow has the
potential to become Chelsea.”
Bloomberg.com, April 9, 2006
More articles »
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Collaboration
Winzavod both initiates its own events and welcomes exhibitors, private galleries, museums, cultural and other organizations.
Opportunities and facilities »
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