LONDON.- Showcasing some 40-50 works by modern and contemporary Russian artists, Moscow curator and gallery owner Maxim Boxer will launch the first in a projected series of London exhibitions and auctions of Russian art, curated by theme.

Opening to coincide with Russian Art Week during the UK-Russia Year of Culture, Maxim Boxer's first exhibition will explore Russian Cosmism, a philosophical and aesthetic movement rooted in a cross- disciplinary and cosmic worldview which emerged in Russia in the early twentieth century.

Comprising a mix of paintings, photographs, sculptures and works on paper, the show will juxtapose the works of acknowledged masters of early 20th century Cosmism with works by successful contemporary artists similarly influenced by ideas of cosmic hope, conserving an ideal of universal spiritual affinity, intergenerational continuity and ethical responsibility.

Early Russian Masters include: Mikhail Larionov, Vasily Chekrigin and Alexander Labas.

Contemporary artists include: Alexander Ponamorev, Leonid Tishkov, Sergey Shutov, Konstantin Batynkov, Arkady Nasonov, Grygoriy Ostretsov, Igor Shelkovskiy, Vladislav Efimov, Ivan Mikhailov, Tatiana Badanina and Igor Makarevich.

Entailing a broad theory of natural philosophy, Cosmism combined theories from world religions and ethics with a history and philosophy of the origin, evolution and future existence of the cosmos and of mankind. It not only pre-empted various scientific theories but also forged the worldviews of a number of important Russian philosophers, poets and painters.

The exhibition opened at Maxim Boxer’s Ravenscourt Galleries in Moscow before transferring to Erarta Galleries, Mayfair, London.

The public auction is intended to attract European and Russian buyers and European galleries and museums. The catalogue is written by curator and author Vitaly Patsyukov. With lots priced between £500- £10,000, affordability is key to the concept.