Sergey Bratkov was born in 1960 in Kharkov (Ukraine). In 1978 he graduated from the Repin Art College and Polytechnical Academy in 1983. From 70’s he became interested in photography, in the 80s he began experimenting with the shooting making collages and objects. From 1988 to 1993 he was in a group of artists called “Litera A”: creating semifigurative painting, he participated in group exhibitions in Ukraine and Germany. From 1994 to 1997 he was a member of the Fast Reaction Group («Rapid Response Group”) together with the photographer Boris Mikhailov, Viktoria Mikhailova and Sergey Solonsky. They created a provocative campaigns, objects and photo series. In 1993 in his Kharkov studio Bratkov founded the gallery “Apdaun”, it lasted until 1997.
Since 2000 he lives and works in Moscow, collaborating with Regina Gallery. He creates photo series (reportage, staging), video, installations and performances. In his works he reflects the social reality of Russia and Ukraine, focusing on the life of homeless, poor and middle-class people. He addresses the society’s problems and fixes the “peoples kitsch – an absurd collage of everyday life, typical of the post-Soviet space” (S. Bratkov). His author’s signature is best known by his brutal frankness and irony: “In order to reach out to the audience the provocation is necessary”, – says the artist.
He is a member of the 25th Biennale in Sao Paulo (2002), Manifesta-5 (2004), the Venice Biennale (2003, 2007, 2011), the Moscow Biennale (2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015). In 2009 – the winner of the state “Innovation” award in the main category “A work of visual art”. His works are in the collections of the Multimedia Art Museum (Moscow, Russia), the Catherine Foundation (Moscow, Russia), the Museum of Modern Art MUHKA (Antwerp, Belgium), the Art Museum Milwaukee (Milwaukee, USA), Museum of Contemporary Art in Zagreb (Zagreb Croatia), FRAC (Paris, France), the Centre of contemporary art of Galicia – CGAC (Santiago de Compostela, Spain), Fotomuseum Winterthur (Winterthur, Switzerland), Pinchuk art Centre (Kiev, Ukraine), as well as in private collections worldwide.
1978
graduated Repin Art College, Kharkiv, Ukraine.
Sergey Bratkov lives and works in Kharkiv and Moskou
2020
Iphone pack, kh.l.a.m, Voronezh. Russia
2017
The Empire of Dreams. MAMM. Moscow, Russia
Brat Film Fest. Regina Gallery, Moscow, Russia
2016
Schukki-shtuki. VLADEY Space. Moscow, Russia
2014
Sergey Bratkov, Spell, Regina Gallery, Moscow, Russia
2013
Chapiteau Moscow, Almine Rech Gallery, Paris, France
2012
Balaklava Drive, Leo Koenig INC, New York, USA
Shapito Moscow, Red October Gallery, Moscow, Russia
2011
Scream, REGINA Gallery. London, UK
Collecti@n. Photohub_Manometr, ArtPlay Design Center. Moscow, Russia
Neither War Nor Peace. REGINA Gallery. Moscow, Russia
2010
Glory Days. Deichtor Hallen. Aktuelle Kunst Haus der Photographie. Hamburg, Germany
Ukraine. Pinchuk Art Centre. Kiev, Ukraine
Male Games. Espacio Minimo Gallery. Madrid, Spain
How much? Deweer Gallery. Otegem, Belgium
2009
Regina Gallery, Moscow
2008
Fotomuseum Winterthur, CH
‘Searching for the horizon’, Transit Mechelen
Regina Gallery Moscow
2007
Baltic, Newcastle
2006
Sergey Bratkov: Dream Rooms, Deweer Art Gallery, Otegem (Belgium)
2005
Collecti@n, Torch Gallery, Amsterdam (The Netherlands)
Installation, Palais des Beaux-Arts, Brussels (Belgium)
Birds, Galerie Anita Beckers, Frankfurt (Germany)
Sergey Bratkov, S.M.A.K., Gent (Belgium)
2004
Manifesta 5, San Sebastian (Spain)
On a Volcano, LipanjePuntin artecontemporanea, Trieste (Italy)
Prison, Photobiennale 2004, Moscow (Russia)
2003
Dreams and Conflicts. Tondo, Venice Biennial – Russian Pavillion, Venice (Italy)
Souvenirs, Scena Gallery, Moscow (Russia)
Kids, Espacio Mínimo, Madrid (Spain)
Steelworkers, Transit Gallery, Mechelen (Belgium)
Faust and Margherita, Center for Contemporary Art, Kiev (Ukraine)
2002
www.girls.ru, LipanjePuntin artecontemporanea, Trieste (Italy)
Djeti – Kinder – Kids, Kunstverein Rosenheim, Rosenheim (Germany)
My Moscow, Regina Gallery, Moscow (Russia)
Souvenirs, Atelier Karas, Kiev (Ukraine)
2001
Fayur-Soyuz, Regina Gallery, Moscow (Russia)
2000
Sailors, Regina Gallery, Moscow (Russia)
Kids, Regina Gallery, Moscow (Russia)
1999
Alien, Cultural Dept. of the German Embassy, Kiev (Ukraine)
1998
America House, Kharkov (Ukraine)
Performance at A Day in the Life/Crimean Project-I, Tennis-Courts of Kiev Tennis Club, Kiev (Ukraine)
1997
The Daily Journal of Chicatilo, Galerie in der Brot Fabrik, Berlin (Germany)
1996
There Is No Paradise, Mixt Gallery, Kiev (Ukraine)
There Is No Paradise, Up/Down Gallery, Kharkov (Ukraine)
The Daily Journal of Chicatilo, The Medical Cabinet of Prof. D. Pirogov, Kharkov (Ukraine)
1995
In the Haystacks, Galerie in der Brot Fabrik, Berlin (Germany)
Frozen Landscape: Photo-Action, Soros Center for Contemporary Art, Kiev (Ukraine)
2015
Moscow Biennale of Contemporary Art, Pavilion No.1 of VDNKh, Moscow, Russia
Deweer Gallery – Het Portret van een familie, de Directeurswoning, Roeselare, Belgium
Faces now – European Portrait Photography since 1990 (curated by Frits Gierstberg), Bozar, Brussels, Belgium
Obsession, Maison Particulière, Brussels, Belgium
2014
Passions Secrètes, Collections Privées Flamandes, Tripostal, Lille, France
Collector’s Room #5 – Pleasure, Deweer Gallery, Otegem, Belgium
2013
Lost in Translation (curated by Antonio Guesa), Project by Moscow Museum of Modern Art (MMOMA) as part of the Collateral Events of the 55th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia, Venice, Italy
2012
Re-Opening, DEWEER gallery, Otegem, Belgium
Closer to Thee. Galerie Transit. Mechelen, Belgium
Reality Bites, Kiasma, The Museum of Contemporary Art, Helsinki, Finland
SAMMEN/TOGETHER, Trondheim Kunstmuseum, Trondheim, Norway
2011
Independent. Mystetskyi Arsenal. Kiev, Ukraine.
Lymphatic drainage. Small Gallery of the Art Arsenal. Kiev, Ukraine
Passion is the difference. LipanjePuntin artecontemporanea. Triest, Italy
Arthouse Squat Forum. IV Moscow Biennale of Contemporary Art. Special Project. Arthouse. Moscow, Russia
Auditorium Moscow. A Sketch For A Public Space. IV Moscow Biennale of Contemporary Art. Special Project. Belie Palaty. Moscow, Russia
The World Belongs To You. 54th Venice Biennale. Parallel Program. Palazzo Grassi. Venice, Italy
Commercial Break. 54th Venice Biennale. Parallel Program. Canal Grande. Venice, Italy
Modernikon. Contemporary Art From Russia. 54th Venice Biennale. Parallel Program. Casa dei tre oci. Venice, Italy
CROSSROADS: Contemporary Russian Photography. Australian Centre for Photography. Sydney, Australia
Cosmic Odyssey 2011. Mistetskiy Arsenal. Kiev, Ukraine
Russian Art. Sem-Art Gallery. Monaco, Monaco
2010
Art to spend time. M’ARS Center for Contemporary Arts. Moscow, Russia
Workers and Philosophers. Moscow School of Management SKOLKOVO. Skolkovo, Moscow Region, Russia
Modernikon. Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo. Torino, Italy
What’s up Sea? Rauma Biennale Balticum. Rauma Art Museum. Rauma, Finland
V Annual All-Russian Awards in the field of contemporary visual art “Innovation”. NCCA. Moscow, Russia
Diary of a madman. REGINA Gallery. Moscow, Russia
Futurology. Center for Contemporary Culture GARAGE. Moscow, Russia
2009
Russian Lettrism. Central House of Artist. Moscow, Russia
Future depends on you. New Rules. Moscow Museum of Modern Art. Moscow, Russia
2007
Venice Biennale. Venice, Italy
Russia, The life and adventures of shed number XII. Collins Building. Miami, USA
15 anos tiene mi amor. Galeria Espacio Minimo. Madrid, Spain
Progressive Nostalgia, Centro Luigi Pecci, Prato, Italy
So Close/So Far Away. Be PART. Waregem, Belgium
Vagina is my motherland. 52th Venice Biennale. Ukrainian Pavilion. Venice, Italy
On Geekdom. Parallel project of Art Athina. Curated by V.Misiano. Athens, Greece
II Moscow Biennale of Contemporary Art. Main Project. Moscow, Russia
2006
Full House: Gesichter einer Sammlung, Städtische Kunsthalle Mannheim, Mannheim (Germany)
Arte Fiera, LipanjePuntin artecontemporanea, Bologna (Italy)
2005
Urbane Realitäten, Fokus Istambul, Berlin (Germany)
The Artists in Their Own Words, MUHKA, Antwerp (Belgium)
Beyond the Red Horizon, Centre for Contemporary Art, Warsaw (Poland)
First Moscow Biennale of Contemporary Art, Moscow Biennale, Moscow (Russia)
Collectie herfst 2005, MUHKA, Antwerp (Belgium)
Transit, Mechelen (Belgium)
2004
MiArt, LipanjePuntin artecontemporanea, Milano (Italy)
Arte Fiera, LipanjePuntin artecontemporanea, Bologna (Italy)
Shrinking Cities, KW Kunst-Werke Berlin e. V., Berlin (Germany)
Collection Autumn 2004, Antwerpen (Belgium)
Esperando una chamada, Cengtro Galego de Arte Contemporanea, Santiago de Compostela (Spain)
Beauty of Darkness, Reflex Modern Art Gallery, Amsterdam (The Netherlands)
Arco, LipanjePuntin artecontemporanea & Regina, Madrid (Spain)
2003
ARCO, LipanjePuntin & Regina Gallery, Madrid (Spain)
Arco, LipanjePuntin artecontemporanea, Madrid (Spain)
Berlin-Moscow/Moscow-Berlin 1950-2000, Martin – Gropius – Bau, Berlin (Germany)
Arte Fiera, LipanjePuntin artecontemporanea, Bologna (Italy)
Corpo sociale, Galleria Pack, Milano (Italy)
MiArt, LipanjePuntin artecontemporanea, Milano (Italy)
Neue Anzatze, Kunsthalle, Dusseldorf (Germany)
Horizons of Reality, MUHKA, Antwerp (Belgium)
2002
Artissima, LipanjePuntin & Regina Gallery, Turin (Italy)
Arte Fiera, LipanjePuntin artecontemporanea, Bologna (Italy)
XXV Bienal de Saõ Paulo, Saõ Paulo (Brasil)
Brand Ukrainian, Center for Contemporary Art, Kiev (Ukraine)
Melioration, Moscow (Russia)
Photobiennale 2002, Manezh, Moscow (Russia)
MiArt, LipanjePuntin artecontemporanea, Milano (Italy)
Sans Consentement, CAN, Neuchatel (Switzerland)
Art Cologne, Regina Gallery, Köln (Germany)
Shock & Show, LipanjePuntin artecontemporanea, Trieste (Italy)
2001
Inverse Perspectives, Edvik Cultural Center, Sollentuna (Sweden)
Winter Exhibitions, Inst. of Visual Arts Univ. of Wisconsin, Milwaukee (Usa)
Art Cologne, Regina Gallery, Cologne (Germany)
Artissima, LipanjePuntin artecontemporanea, Torino (Italy)
2000
Clean Room, Promzona Club, Kiev (Ukraine)
Two Sides, Center for Contemporary Art, Kiev (Ukraine)
Contemporary Photographers of Ukraine, Contemporary Art Center, Thessaloniki (Greece)
Olaf Breuning & Sergey Bratkov, Museum-Fortress Cosoi Caponir, Kiev (Ukraine)
1999
Moscow Art Fair, Manege, Moscow (Russia)
Contemporary Photographers of Ukraine, Festival Est-Ouest, Die (France)
3rd Triennale of Photography, Graz (Austria)
After the Wall, Moderna Museet, Stockholm (Sweden)
The Future Is Now. Ukrainian Art of ’90s, Museum of Contemporary Art, Zagreb (Croatia)
Photographers from Kharkov, Gallery Kohlenof, Nürnberg (Germany)
Carte-blanche a Boris Mikhailov, Cité International des Arts, Paris (France)
Contemporary Photofraphers of Ukraine, Le Quai, Mulhouse (France)
Regards sur l’Ukraine, Passage du Retz, Paris (France)
The Taste of the Other, Tokyo Japanese Club Restaurant, Kiev (Ukraine)
Face Value, Ukrainian Stock Exchange, Kiev (Ukraine)
1998
Intermeedia, Soros Center for Contemporary Art, Kiev (Ukraine)
Humanature, Nortalie (Sweden)
Public Interest, Gallery of the Artists’ Union, Kiev (Ukraine)
Accomodation, Gallery U Iezuitov, Poznan (Poland)
Dressed in White, The Art Gallery at Pamapo College, Mahwah, New Jersey (Usa)
A Day in the Life, Crimean Project-I, Soros Center for Contemporary Art, Kiev (Ukraine)
1997
Photo Synthesis, Gallery of the Artists’ Union, Kiev (Ukraine)
Lege Artist. By the whole Artist Rules, Photo Center Exar, Kiev (Ukraine)
Intrigue-Provocation, Zilinkas Art Gallery, Kaunas (Lithuania)
Simptomatic Anonimity, Soros Center for Contemporary Art, Kiev (Ukraine)
1996
Sugar Plum Vision, Soros Center for Contemporary Art, Kiev (Ukraine)
Commodity Feticism, Ukrainian House Cultural Center, Kiev (Ukraine)
The Family Album, Kyiv Mohyla Academy Gallery, Kiev (Ukraine)
Hermetic Forest, Soros Center for Contemporary Art, Kiev (Ukraine)
1995
Barbaros, Artists Union Gallery, Kiev (Ukraine)
Black and White, Center for Contemporary Arts Brama, Kiev (Ukraine)
The Art of Photography From Ukraine, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey (Usa)
Bred in the Bone, Soros Center for Contemporary Art, Kiev (Ukraine)
Illya Chichkan & Sergey Bratkov, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey (Usa)
Mouth of Medusa, Center for Contemporary Arts Brama, Kiev (Ukraine)