ABOUT
Welcome to the Voices Archive, a unique repository dedicated to preserving the resonant history of our generation. I'm Artemy Zhigulev, a molecular biologist and contemporary art historian. My passion for cultural preservation inspired me to create and develop this archive into the resource you see today.
PAST
The Voices Archive has its roots in the Tula Street Voices (TSV) project. I launched TSV in 2017 to support first-wave Eastern European internet poets by organizing their concerts in my hometown of Tula. In the early 2010s, this scene was imbued with a DIY spirit: books printed at parents' workplaces and concerts held in living rooms or anti-cafés. Tours often relied on the dedication of local enthusiasts. TSV quickly grew into a team of five, and over three incredible years, we hosted many talented artists, including Serafima Ananasova, Evgeny Soya, Dima Ptitsami, Lev Rubinstein, Andrey Orlovsky, Vladimir Tok, Maxim Tesli, and EPP. Along the way, I collected various artifacts gifted by artists, many of which remain unpublished or undocumented online. Soon, I realized its preservation would be essential for maintaining our heritage.
Photo: Baraban
FUTURE
Today, my archival interests focus on the evolution of text-centric art, from the establishment of Russia's first independent music club, TamTam, in 1991 to the rise of the Eastern European internet poetry movement in 2013 and the ongoing global influence of alternative rap and post-punk. I also strive to cover other artists, capturing the spirit of time.
This online archive is the first step towards establishing a physical space for preserving and studying our culture. It will take a lot of time, energy, and resources to bring all the plans to life. But with the support of artists and visitors — the real voices of our generation, I feel confident in achieving these goals. Thanks for staying with us.