Vasilisk (Vasily) Gnedov (1890–1978), a central figure in Russian Futurism, published his best-known work, Death to Art, on the brink of the first World War. Abrasive and wily in his younger years, he became known for his provocations and poetry, which actively sought to collapse language in on itself. Swept up by the cataclysmic events of twentieth-century Russia, he eventually returned to his homeland of Ukraine, where he died in obscurity.

Emilia Loseva is an independent author who writes and translates poetry, essays, film scripts and conceptual texts for multi-disciplinary events. She worked on films and other projects with Danny Winkler. Together they completed a book of English translations of Russian Futurist poet Vasilisk Gnedov. This undertaking followed the translation of an anthology of Futurist poets, “Futurosis”, for a music project by avant-garde composer Nick Sudnik. She is currently translating the experimental poetry of Willy Melnikov for a forthcoming event in St Petersburg.