Sergey Mironenko, b.1959

Sergei Mironenko made his name with the hooligan antics of the Mukhomor, a dynamic and carefree group of Moscow conceptualists. Mukhomor, or Toadstool, was the collective pseudonym used by Mironenko, his brother Vladimir, Sven Gundlakh (see lot 109), Konstantin Zvezdochetov and Alexei Kamenskii. The group became known for their pseudo-political activity and their unique method of ironical criticism. Later they abandoned the complex signifying structures of Conceptualism in favour of a colourful, pop-influenced artistic activity with a strong emphasis on improvisation and spontaneity. They organized various performances, often quite extreme such as Gundlakh's live burial, created comic paintings, wrote witty poetry, which they bound and sold to their friends for a penny. Mukhomor appeared in 1978, during the period of informational isolation, cultural blockade and semi-legal existence of 'avant-garde artists'. Engagement in contemporary art was considered to be almost criminal, let alone active participation in it. As a result of their activity, the members of Mukhomor were sent to join the army. Two years later, when they returned, the artists' outlook had changed and they started working independently.

Sergei Mironenko is a very diverse artist who works in many different styles, constantly exploiting various artistic ideas. For him 'art is a form of politics, sport or show business; he deprives art of its solid crust of mythology: in this way, he attempts to reach the new and unhabitual role now appointed to an artist from the Underground as a participant in market deals, making it a component of his creations' (Ekaterina Dyogot, Contemporary Painting in Russia, Fine Art Publishing, 1995 p.98).  

Mironenko's works are in the collections of the State Tretyakov Gallery, The Moscow Museum of Modern Art and the Jane Voorhees Zimmerli Art Museum in New Jersey amongst others.