Konstantin BESSMERTNY 君士坦丁
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BIOGRAPHY
Konstantin BESSMERTNY (b.1964, Blagoveschensk, in the former USSR) is one of the most active and distinguished artists working in Asia today. In his artistic career that spans over three decades, Bessmertny paints, draws, makes sculptures and installations. Bessmertny studied fine art in the grand academies of the Soviet Union, his thoughtfulness on a wide range of subject matter – literature, music, history and politics, as well as his diverse cultural background. His works are often characterised by colourful chaos, surrealistic landscapes, contradictions and absurdities. Bessmertny’s works have been extensively exhibited worldwide. Recent exhibitions include solo shows ‘Nanban-jin’ (Tokyo Gendai 2025, Gallery EXIT, Tokyo), ‘Journey to the East’ (Gallery EXIT, Hong Kong, 2024), ‘BIG & small’ (Galeria Monumental, Lisbon, Portugal), ‘Le Grand Exil’ (Pontus Maximus Productions, Macau, 2023), ‘VOYAGE’ (Military Club, Macau, 2021, 2020, 2019), ‘INTERMISSION; INTERSECTION; Ambitus II’ (The Arts Club, London, 2018), ‘Ambitus I’ (Rossi & Rossi, London, UK, 2017), ‘and ‘Ad Lib - Recent Works of Konstantin Bessmertny’ (Macao Museum of Art, Macau, 2016). Group exhibitions include: ‘Macao International Art Biennale’ (Macao Cultural Centre, Macau, 2023), ‘Shek-O Sublime’ (Gallery EXIT, Hong Kong, 2019), ‘Crossroads · Another Dimension: the Cross-Straight Four-Regions Artistic Exchange Project’ (Hong Kong City Hall, 2014), and more. In 2007, he represented Macau at the 52nd International Art Exhibition at the Venice Biennale. His works were acquired by multiple collections, including Guangdong Museum of Art, Macau Museum of Art, M+ Museum (Hong Kong), Centro Cientifico e Cultural de Macau (Lisbon), Portugal Missão de Macau (Lisbon) and many more. Bessmertny was awarded Bronze Medal for Painting at the International Art Exhibition by Museum of Chinese Revolution in Beijing in 2000; First Prize for Painting at the International Art Competition by the International Institute of Macau in 2001; Prize for Excellence at the Contemporary Artists Exhibition in Beijing in 2003. The artist currently lives and works in Macau and Hong Kong. HIGHLIGHT 2024 Journey to the East, Gallery EXIT, Hong Kong 2023 Art Basel Hong Kong, Gallery EXIT, Hong Kong 2022 Art Basel Hong Kong, Gallery EXIT, Hong Kong 2019 Shek-O Sublime, Gallery EXIT, Hong Kong SOLO EXHIBITIONS 2025 Nanban-jin, Tokyo Gendai 2025, Gallery EXIT, Tokyo 2024 Journey to the East, Gallery EXIT, Hong Kong 2023 BIG & small, Galeria Monumental, Lisbon Le Grand Exil, Pontus Maximus Productions, Hong Kong 2022 Sunday Morning Forever, Galeria Monumental, Lisbon Napoleon in Exile on Koh Samui, Virtual exhibition, Santikhiri estate, Koh Samui 2021 VOYAGE, Military Club, Macau 2020 INTERMISSION, Military Club, Macau 2019 INTERSECTION, Military Club, Macau Pop-up show for Art Basel, Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong 2018 The Last Dumpling, Pop-up show for Art Basel, Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong What is to Blame & Who is to be Done? House of Artists Union, Vladivostok Ambitus II, The Arts Club, London 2017 Ambitus I, Rossi & Rossi, London 2016 Ad Lib - Recent Works of Konstantin Bessmertny, Macao Museum of Art, Macau Deity of Doubt, Rossi & Rossi, Hong Kong 2014 Stir Fry, 10 Chancery Lane, Hong Kong 365 - A Work a Day, Museu Fundação Oriente, Lisbon E. Meets W, BERKO Gallery Shanghai, Shanghai 2013 One of You and All of Them, Rossi & Rossi, London 2012 Tempos de Grande Ignorância - Trabalhos de Konstantin Bessmertny, Macau Museum of Art, Macau 2011 One of you, AFA Beijing, Beijing Clandestinum, Amelia Johnson Contemporary, Hong Kong 2010 Causarum Cognitio, Rossi & Rossi, London 2009 China Trade!, Amelia Johnson Contemporary, Hong Kong 2008 Monumentum Pro, St. Paul Fine Art, Macau 2007 Recent Works, The Museum of Art, Macau 2006 New Works, Amelia Johnson Contemporary, Hong Kong New Works, Casino Royale. Kings Road Gallery, London 2005 Don’t Ask, Galeria Armazém, Lisbon ARCO’05, Galerie Martini, Madrid 2004 Intercambio, Amelia Johnson Contemporary, Hong Kong Konstantin Bessmertny, Galeria Monumental, Lisbon Casino Republic+, Todd Warmoth Gallery, London 2003 Konstantin Bessmertny, C2 Gallery, Shanghai Small Works, Galerie Martini, Hong Kong 2002 Konstantin Bessmertny, Galerie Martini, Hong Kong Paintings, Galeria Monumental, Lisbon Revolution, The Kings Road Gallery, London 2001 Ambience, Galerie Martini, Hong Kong 2000 Selected Works, Galeria Monumental, Lisbon Konstantin Bessmertny, Lou Lim Ioc Garden Pavilion, Macau 1999 Dictum, Galerie Martini, Hong Kong Konstantin Bessmertny, Galeria do Centro Cultural Gandarinha, Cascais Konstantin Bessmertny, World Trade Centre Gallery, Macau 1998 Diversus, Galerie Martini, Hong Kong Objects, Sculpture and Paintings, Museu Casa de Bocage, Casa do Corpo Santo and Museudo Trabalho de Giacometti, Setúbal 1997 Painting Exhibition, BCM World Trade Centre, Macau 1996 Painting Exhibition, Gallery Leal Senado, Macau Exhibition Of Prints, Casa Garden Gallery, Macau Paintings, Objects and Sculpture, Military Club, Macau 1995 Painting Exhibition, Gallery Missão de Macau, Lisbon 1994 Watercolour Exhibition, Serviços de Turismo Gallery, Macau GROUP EXHIBITIONS 2026 Art Basel Hong Kong 2026, Gallery EXIT, Hong Kong 2025 Abu Dhabi Art 2025, Gallery EXIT, Abu Dhabi Art Brussels 2025, Gallery EXIT, Brussels Art Basel Hong Kong 2025, Gallery EXIT, Hong Kong 2024 West Bund Art & Design 2024, Gallery EXIT, Hong Kong Art Basel Hong Kong 2024, Gallery EXIT, Hong Kong 2023 ‘The Typhoon of Destiny’, Art Macao, Macau Art Basel Hong Kong 2023, Gallery EXIT, Hong Kong 2022 Art Basel Hong Kong 2022, Gallery EXIT, Hong Kong 2019 Shek-O Sublime, Gallery EXIT, Hong Kong 2014 Crossroads · Another Dimension: the Cross-Straight Four-Regions Artistic Exchange Project 2013, Hong Kong City Hall, Hong Kong 2013 SAME : DIFFERENCE, Rossi & Rossi, London 2012 Victory! Triumph in Classical and Contemporary Asian Art, Rossi & Rossi, London 2011 What’s So Funny About Peace, Love and Understanding?, Rossi & Rossi, London Imaginary Belongings’, Macau Contemporary Art, Museum of the Orient, Lisbon 2010 Boys and Girls Come out to Play - Summer exhibition, Rossi & Rossi, London 2009 The Land Of Dostojewski, Galerie Caprice Horn, Berlin ARTHK 09 Hong Kong International Art Fair, Hong Kong MONUMENT TO ANYONE (Monumentum pro aliquis), installation and performance at Fringe, da Cidade de Macau, Macau 2008 ARTHK 08 Hong Kong International Art Fair, Hong Kong 2007 The 52nd International Art Exhibition, Venice Biennale, Venice 2006 Winter 06/07, Amelia Johnson Contemporary, Hong Kong CIGE 06, Amelia Johnson Contemporary, Beijing Year of the Dog, Ox Warehouse, Macau 2005 XIX Asian Art Exhibition, Museum of Contemporary Art, Fukuoka Art LONDON, London Art Walk 2005, Amelia Johnson Contemporary, Hong Kong Wan Chai: Hong Kong International Artists Workshop, Hong Kong 2004 AAF, ArtLONDON, London, United Kingdom 2003 XVIII Asian Art Exhibition, Heritage Museum, Hong Kong Isolation and Communication, Macau & Zhuhai Contemporary Art Exchange Exhibition, Albergue de Santa Casa da Misericordia, Macau To Dream the Impossible, Contemporary Ceramic Exhibition, The Pottery Workshop, Hong Kong Pure’, Galerie Martini, Hong Kong Arco 2003, Madrid A Beam of Delight, Casas-Museu da Taipa, Macau Sketch Extension, Albergue de Santa Casa da Misericordia, Macau ArtLONDON, London White Christmas: Red New Year, Galerie Martini, Hong Kong 2001 The Gambling Show, John Batten Gallery, Hong Kong, Arco 2001, Madrid Salon d’hiver IV, Galerie Martini, Hong Kong 2000 International Art Exhibition, Museum of Revolution, Beijing Salon d’hiver III, Galerie Martini, Hong Kong 1999 3rd International Exhibition of Tsai – Mo Art, in Atelier (Peintracol 50), Lyon Stage of 1000 Faces, Macau Cultural Centre, Macau XIV Asian Art Exhibition, Museum of Contemporary Arts, Tokyo Absolute Asia, Galerie Martini, Hong Kong Oriente-Ocidente, Mercado de Ferreira Borges, Porto Konsthallen Passagen, Linkoping 1998 Pure A, Galerie Martini, Hong Kong 2nd International Touring Exhibition of Tsai, – Mo Art, Taichung XIII Asian Art Exhibition, Museum of Contemporary Arts, Kuala Lumpur Salon d’hiver II, Galerie Martini, Hong Kong 1997 Contemporary Asian Art Exhibition, Hong Kong Arts Centre, Hong Kong Contemporary Asian Art Exhibition, University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong A Gift for India’, Rabindra Bhawan Galleries, New Delhi XII Asian Arts Exhibition, The Forum of Macau, Macau Salon d’hiver, Galerie Martini, Hong Kong Guangzhou Art Fair, Exhibition Centre, Guangzhou Container-96. Project – Art Across Oceans, Copenhagen 1995 Print Exhibition, Berlin 1994 II Biennial of Art, Casa Garden Gallery, Macau Circle of Friends of Culture, Casa Garden Gallery, Macau 1993 Contemporary Russian Art Exhibition, Leal Senado, Macau Contemporary Russian Art Exhibition, Hong Kong 1992 TOPO GROUP, Naval Museum, Vladivostok TOPO GROUP, State Museum of Fine Arts, Khabarovsk 1991 Exhibition of Contemporary Artists, State Museum of Arts, Vladivostok Exhibition of Contemporary Artists, Art Étage, Vladivostok 1990 Contemporary Russian Painters’, Municipal Gallery, Khabarovsk (former USSR) 1983 Contemporary Painters, Municipal Gallery, Khabarovsk (former USSR) 1978 Group Show, Municipal Gallery, Blagoveschensk (former USSR) HONOURS AND AWARDS 2006 Finalist, Sovereign Art Foundation, Asia 2003 Prize for Excellence, Contemporary Artists Exhibition, Beijing 2002 First Prize for Painting, Philippe Charriol Foundation, Hong Kong 2001 First Prize for Painting, International Art Competition, International Institute of Macau 2000 Bronze Medal for Painting, International Art Exhibition, Museum of Revolution, Beijing 1995 Honourable Mention for Painting (Kiss, 1995, oil on canvas) II Biennale of Art, Macau First Prize in printing at the II Biennale of Art, Macau MAJOR COLLECTIONS M+ Museum, Hong Kong Guangdong Museum of Art, China Museum of Contemporary Art, Macau Leal Senado de Macau (Municipality), Macau Paláçio de Governo de Macau, Macau Instituto Português do Oriente (IPOR), Macau Fundação Oriente, Macau Centro Cientifico e Cultural de Macau, Lisbon Portugal Missão de Macau, Lisbon RELATED ARTICLES
AsiaArtArchive, November, 2009
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