Featuring prominent artists from St. Petersburg, as well as Moscow, Perm, Novosibirsk, Ufa, Lipetsk, and Krasnodar, the exhibition is a chance to appreciate real trailblazers of contemporary art whose paintings provide commentary on various issues of current concern.

Some of the artists began their creative endeavours during the Soviet era, taking part in underground home exhibitions and unsanctioned youth movements opposing the official art establishment. This does not mean, however, that the exhibition has no relevance today: all artworks selected for the Syktyvkar show were created during the 2000s or 2010s. Some of the artists featured are already a strong presence in the art scene despite their young age.

The masterpieces from the collection of Russia's largest private museum of contemporary art will travel to Komi as part of the long-running Russia in Erarta project aiming to enhance the country's cultural integrity.