The 27-year-old socialite and fashion designer launched her latest venture yesterday with boyfriend and rumored financial backer Roman Abramovich in the crowd. Continue reading for more photos and information. 

The “GCCC” is an 8,500 square foot building that was once a bus station and has been transformed into Moscow’s answer to the Tate, including a gallery, bookshop, and cafe. The first exhibition will be the work of New York based, husband and wife team Ilya and Emilia Kabakov. 

In an email interview with John Varoli of Bloomberg news Dasha said the following:

Varoli: At what moment in your life did you decide you wanted to be involved with contemporary art? And why?

Zhukova: I have been interested in art for as long as I can remember. We had works of art at home and so I suppose it was quite natural that I should have developed an interest. My father is really into architecture and contemporary Eastern European and Russian art.

Varoli: Why did you decide to open such a big undertaking as the Garage?

Zhukova: I came across the wonderful Garage one day when I was exploring that part of Moscow and I immediately thought it would make an exceptional art space.

Varoli: You already are a busy and successful woman with a lot going on, but will the Garage be your main project?

Zhukova: For the moment yes.

Varoli: What do you hope the Garage will accomplish?

New Audience

Zhukova: I hope that it will introduce a whole new audience to contemporary art both from Russia and abroad, particularly young people. If we can achieve that I will be happy.

Varoli: Is it your ambition to put Moscow on the map in terms of contemporary art? Are you motivated by feelings to help your home city?

Zhukova: It is already happening with new projects and galleries opening. I feel Russian and want to give something back to the community if I can.

Varoli: Why did you decide to open the Garage starting with Ilya and Emilia Kabakov‘s retrospective?

Zhukova: Because they are Russia’s leading contemporary artists and they have never had a retrospective in Moscow. The show will be extraordinary.

Varoli: Who is the sponsor?

Zhukova: The main sponsor of the Kabakov exhibition is Roman Abramovich. Iris Foundation (my foundation) is collaborating on it.

Varoli: Does the Garage have any plans in the future to sell art works; might it function as a gallery? Or are any commercial activities totally ruled out?

Zhukova: Absolutely no selling of art at all!

Zhukova declined to comment on her favorite artists: “I have many and I do not think it wise to pick out specific names.”

She refused to answer the following questions: What is your relationship with Abramovich? What about media claims regarding your father’s occupation? Please tell us something about art works that you have purchased. How much has been invested in the Garage to get it up and running?

She said she did not comment on her family, personal life or confidential business matters.

She also said the following to the Guardian newspaper (full article here)

She said: “I think I have always had an idea to open a contemporary art centre at the back of my mind. It wasn’t until I saw this building that I realised this would be the perfect place to realise the idea.”

“Aesthetically I love this building. It’s absolutely beautiful. I love that it’s a perfect parallelogram,” she added.

Asked how she had got involved in art, she said: “I kind of grew up with it. My father is really into architecture. Both of my best friends are artists. I think it’s always been around me.”

She told the Guardian: “I hope everybody comes here. I hope young people come here and old people come here, people who love contemporary art and people who don’t like it.

“I just hope to start a dialogue with our audience. I hope to get them excited about all the many different artists that are out there.”

This is also the same gallery where Dasha threw a pre-opening party for her friends as well as the creme de la creme of the art world a few months ago. Read about that here. 

All photos from spletnik.ru. Full article from John Varoli/Bloomberg here.