MAPPING
DIASPORA

ART OF EXILE

The Center for the Study of Russian Art (CSAR) at Ca’ Foscari University in Venice presents the project Mapping Diaspora: Art of Exiles — a gathering point and analytical platform for artistic projects created by those who left Russia after February 24, 2022.
The central question we seek to explore is:

WHAT ARE THESE PEOPLE DOING, AND WHAT ARE THEY THINKING ABOUT NOW?

The departure of a significant number of intellectuals is deeply tied to a sense of solidarity and compassion for the country invaded by Russia.

Mapping Diaspora: Art of Exiles is our way of collecting and connecting artistic reflections and experiences shaped by one of the most visible intellectual migrations of our time.

Our goal is to trace — to literally map — what we have lived through in recent years, what has been created, and what is still in the process of being understood.

We do this through four thematic blocks: “ART”, “conTEXTS”, “Dialogues”, and “Events”.

In the “ART" section, we share works and projects realized through diverse artistic languages and media.

In “conTEXTS”, we bring together texts by researchers, curators, journalists, and writers that help illuminate our shared artistic landscape from multiple perspectives.

In “Dialogues”, project participants respond to vital and timely questions — about themselves, the present moment, and the emotional and intellectual states we inhabit today.

And in “Events”, we publish information about gatherings, exhibitions, and other initiatives — both our own and those that resonate with us in spirit and theme.

We do not aim to draw a line between those who left and those who stayed. On the contrary, we believe it is essential to emphasize the connections between the fragmented parts of what was once a shared cultural field.
In the context of growing censorship in Russia and the potential return of an “iron curtain”, the dissenting voices of Russian culture risk becoming a blind spot — both for researchers and the wider public.

Forced migration is not a uniquely Russian experience. Across the world, people are being displaced by war, repression, and injustice.
We seek to collaborate with artists and researchers who have gone into exile from other countries, and we hope this project will become a meeting point for these diverse voices.

An international team of specialists is working on the project — together, we are building new professional connections, spaces of support, and cultural dialogue.

We connect scattered voices.
Diaspora speaks!