At the heart of this exhibition lies Sorokin’s seminal work, “The Day of the Oprichnik.” Set in a not-so-distant future, the novel portrays a Russia that has regressed into a neo-feudal state, enclosed by an immense wall and governed by a brutal elite known as the oprichniki. Through the eyes of Andrei Danilovich Komiaga, a loyal oprichnik, Sorokin presents a chilling satire that critiques authoritarianism, nationalism, and the cyclical nature of history.

The narrative is both stark and surreal, painting a picture of a society where the past and future collide in grotesque harmony.Sorokin’s masterful storytelling is evident in his ability to blend the grotesque with the mundane, creating a world that is disturbingly plausible yet absurdly exaggerated.

His use of dark humour and vivid imagery serves not only to entertain but to provoke deep reflection on the political and cultural currents shaping contemporary Russia. Marat Guelman, a visionary art curator, proposed a parallel project to Sorokin’s latest exhibition, utilising artificial intelligence (AI) to bring characters from “The Day of the Oprichnik” to life.

This collaboration has led to an extraordinary exploration of the intersection between human creativity and machine learning, producing results that even surprised Sorokin. The AI has not only cloned literary classics but also endowed them with an autonomous existence, prompting a profound reflection on the evolution of literature in the digital age.