"Did you have a good time?" Vremena Goda Café Since 1968

GARAGE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART PRESENTS: “DID YOU HAVE A GOOD TIME?” VREMENA GODA CAFÉ SINCE 1968

June 8–September 2, 2018

In 2018, the former restaurant Vremena Goda—today home to Garage Museum of Contemporary Art—celebrates its fiftieth anniversary, and it is ninety years since Gorky Park opened to the public. To mark these important dates, throughout the summer visitors to Garage can take a trip back in time and experience the atmosphere of the hip Soviet destination within Gorky Park.

Part of the West Gallery will be restaged as an interpretation of the former Soviet café—famous for its view onto the giant Ferris wheel—and host a series of events exploring the idea of free time and the concept of leisure.

The establishment of Vremena Goda café as a new type of public catering at that time and in that location was not coincidental. The café captured the progressive mood of the 1960s generation and the wave of modernization that swept the domains of public food and leisure activities. It was deeply connected to its location: the first park in the country dedicated to recreation and culture, which, soon after opening in 1928, became the pride of proletarian Moscow and a place where millions of people per year would spend their free time.

The café hosted numerous events for the local community, from children’s matinees and chess tournaments to dance evenings and jazz concerts, which partly overlapped with the mission of the Soviet Houses of Culture. With the project “Did You Have a Good Time?” Garage not only aims to revive the atmosphere of the former café but also the variety of cultural interventions, re-examining our present-day understanding of leisure, especially in relation to culture and education. Through a series of lectures, round tables, games, theatrical and standup comedy performances, concerts, and themed evenings, visitors will be able to reflect on the leisure of the past, present, and future.

The project is organized by Garage curator Snejana Krasteva, Education coordinator Ekaterina Vladimirtseva, and Public Programs manager Irina Sopina.
Exhibition design by GRACE, Milan
The program of events will be available on Garage website from May 11, 2018, and will be updated throughout the summer.

GARAGE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART
Garage Museum of Contemporary Art is a place for people, art, and ideas to create history. Through an extensive program of exhibitions, events, education, research, and publishing, the institution reflects on current developments in Russian and international culture, creating opportunities for public dialogue, as well as the production of new work and ideas in Moscow. At the center of all these activities is the Museum’s collection, which is the first archive in the country related to the development of Russian contemporary art from the 1950s through the present. Founded in 2008 by Dasha Zhukova and Roman Abramovich, Garage is the first philanthropic organization in Russia to create a comprehensive public mandate for contemporary art and culture. Open seven days a week, it was initially housed in the renowned Bakhmetevsky Bus Garage in Moscow, designed by the Constructivist architect Konstantin Melnikov. In 2012 Garage relocated to a temporary pavilion in Gorky Park, specifically commissioned from award-winning architect Shigeru Ban. A year later, a purpose-built Education Center was opened next to the Pavilion. On June 12, 2015, Garage welcomed visitors to its first permanent home. Designed by Rem Koolhaas and his OMA studio, this groundbreaking preservation project transformed the famous Vremena Goda (Seasons of the Year) Soviet Modernist restaurant, built in 1968 in Gorky Park, into a contemporary museum.
Garage is a non-profit project of The IRIS Foundation.
Adam Abdalla
Cultural Counsel
Email: adam@culturalcounsel.com
UNIQLO
UNIQLO designs functional, innovative, and affordable apparel. The LifeWear line’s DNA is high quality, simplicity, longevity, and trendiness regardless of a person’s lifestyle or style.
As part of the strategic partnership between UNIQLO and Garage, a series of special events and activities are held. Garage and UNIQLO has launched UNIQLO Free Friday Nights, continuing the tradition of free admission for all visitors every Friday evening at such key art institutions as MoMa in New York and Tate in London. Garage visitors can enjoy free admission to all exhibitions every Friday between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Garage Lounge Zone opened at the UNIQLO Atrium store, Moscow, in 2017. Customers can immerse themselves in the art world with books and magazines about art, fashion, and contemporary culture. The zone is also a space for free lectures and master classes, as well as special projects by Garage.
PIK GROUP
PIK is the largest real estate development company in Russia. Constructing modern and comfortable homes, it sets a new standard for architecture and quality of life. PIK is known for clean, minimalist design with a few bright accents. Inviting emerging architecture studios to design its facades, and combining their input with its own technical expertise, the company offers new solutions for urban construction.
As partners, PIK and Garage will join forces and expertise to create public spaces that will be comfortable and interesting for all visitors. When they buy a new home, PIK customers will receive a free GARAGE card that will grant them free priority admission to Garage’s exhibitions and special events, as well as discounts at Garage café and Bookshop for one year. Garage visitors will be able to take part in events organised with PIK’s support.
INGOSSTRAKH
Ingosstrakh has been a major player in both the Russian and international markets since 1947. The company is the national leader in Russia based on total insurance premiums in the voluntary insurance sector (not including life insurance). Ingosstrakh is authorized to handle all types of insurance services (in accordance with the insurance company’s specialization) specified in Article 32.9 of the Insurance Law of the Russian Federation, as well as reinsurance services. For many years, Ingosstrakh has provided insurance services for important works of art and other valuable historical objects. The company has 149 locations throughout Russia, as well as branches and subsidiaries worldwide.
Ingosstrakh is the Official Insurance Partner of Garage Museum of Contemporary Art for the second year running. For Ingosstrakh, the partnership with Garage is an important stage in expanding cooperation with leading museums in Russia and across the world. The company insures the artworks exhibited and, jointly with the Museum, implements a wide range of special programs for visitors.
BMW GROUP RUSSIA
BMW Group has had a presence in the art world for many years thanks to its BMW Art Car project that lists artists like Andy Warhol, Jeff Koons, Roy Lichtenstein, Frank Stella, and César Manrique among its participants. Since racing driver and art enthusiast Hervé Poulain invited Alexander Calder to paint the first car in 1975, some of the world’s biggest artists have created nineteen unique designs based on the company’s models. BMW Group is also a long-time partner of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York and has organized long-term projects in collaboration with Tate Modern in London and the National Gallery in Berlin.
Garage helps to promote art and culture and inspire millions of people to discover new things. For BMW Group, which celebrated its centenary in 2016, the partnership with Garage is a wonderful opportunity to support contemporary art. Starting from 2017, BMW Group supports one of the Museum’s main programs, offering Art and Technology grants to contemporary artists.