Musée Imaginaire
A major study of interrelationships among works of art, created by the artist Mihail Chemiakin
Steps, Ladders, Stairs in art. Absurdist Stairs

The Staircase, Adam McEwan, 2016
Ladders

Untitled, Rachel Whiteread, 2001
Ladders
Chemiakin’s analytical Method
The research is based on comparative analysis and the juxtaposition of related works from varying cultures and eras
Mihail Chemiakin
Mihail Chemiakin
artist, theatrical designer and director, researcher, teacher

...There is not enough generalization and synthesis in art. We believe ourselves to be separate, unlike one another, but later we begin to understand that spaces interweave. When similar images arise in totally different contexts we realize how united we are
The material archive of Mihail Chemiakin’s Musée Imaginaire
Since 2007 Mihail Chemiakin’s research laboratory has been located at the Chateau de Chamousseau in France, where the artist continues his analytical work. Chemiakin’s studios and art library are also located at Chamousseau
Mihail Chemiakin has been working on his Musée Imaginaire for
60 years
He has collected, analyzed and systematized
3 000 000 reproductions
These images have been sorted into
Over 1 000 ongoing themes

The Musée Imaginaire’s archive

Chateau de Chamousseau, Villedieu-sur-Indre, France

The Musée Imaginaire’s archive
The material archive consists of sheets of black paper with reproductions pasted on them, juxtaposed by theme on the principle of visual similarity
The Digital Musée Imaginaire
The digital platform was created in 2023 using the digitalized archive of Mihail Chemiakin’s Musée Imaginaire
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John Steuart Curry, Kansas Cornfield 1933
Flowers

Conserves
The platform is a data base of 200 000 images from the archive, collected and interpreted by Mihail Chemiakin over 60 years
Systematizes data
The themes of Mihail Chemiakin’s Musée Imaginaireare organized in galleries of images for the convenience of users and researchers
Produces results
The platform is intended to help users study interrelation ships in art, deepen their knowledge of art and apply the material viewed to their own academic and artistic work
Outreach of Mihail Chemiakin’s Musée Imaginaire
The project includes not only research, but also books, exhibitions, master-classes, lectures and documentary films

Stairs in Art
Exhibition, The State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow, June 21 - September 17, 2023

Mihail Chemiakin’s Musée Imaginaire. 60 years of research
Monograph on the history of the project, 356 р., 2023


Steps, Ladders, Stairs in Art
Two-volume monograph based on material from Mihail Chemiakin’s Musée Imaginaire, 702 p., 2023

Mihail Chemiakin’s Metaphysical Studio
Exhibition, Museum of Modern Art, Moscow, 2018

Swaddled, Bandaged, Wrapped Figures and Objects in Art
Monograph based on material from Mihail Chemiakin’s Musée Imaginaire

Swaddled, Bandaged, Wrapped Figures and Objects in Art
Exhibition, Mihail Chemiakin Centre, Saint Petersburg, 2018

Clothing in Art
Exhibition, Mihail Chemiakin Foundation, Saint Petersburg, 2016

The Automobile in Art
Exhibition, Mihail Chemiakin Foundation, Saint Petersburg, 2015
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