Sergey Bratkov was born in 1960 in Kharkov (Ukraine). In 1978 he graduated from the Repin Art College and Polytechnical Academy in 1983. From 70’s he became interested in photography, in the 80s he began experimenting with the shooting making collages and objects. From 1988 to 1993 he was in a group of artists called “Litera A”: creating semifigurative painting, he participated in group exhibitions in Ukraine and Germany. From 1994 to 1997 he was a member of the Fast Reaction Group («Rapid Response Group”) together with the photographer Boris Mikhailov, Viktoria Mikhailova and Sergey Solonsky. They created a provocative campaigns, objects and photo series. In 1993 in his Kharkov studio Bratkov founded the gallery “Apdaun”, it lasted until 1997.
Since 2000 he lives and works in Moscow, collaborating with Regina Gallery. He creates photo series (reportage, staging), video, installations and performances. In his works he reflects the social reality of Russia and Ukraine, focusing on the life of homeless, poor and middle-class people. He addresses the society’s problems and fixes the “peoples kitsch – an absurd collage of everyday life, typical of the post-Soviet space” (S. Bratkov). His author’s signature is best known by his brutal frankness and irony: “In order to reach out to the audience the provocation is necessary”, – says the artist.
