Russian- born, American-based Jewish artists Ilya and Emilia Kabakov collaborate on works of art that are deeply rooted in the Soviet social and cultural context in which the Kabakovs came of age. They are widely seen as innovators of installation art.

They have an exhibition at Tate Modern October 18 to 28 January, in which they explore the idea of a failed utopia. Combining the artists’ characteristic use of melancholia, fictional characterisation and humour, the exhibition traces a line from Ilya Kabakov’s early paintings, drawings, albums and installations made in Moscow before his emigration to the West in 1987, to the collaborative projects made with Emilia in America since 1988, including immersive installations and architectural models.

Emilia Kabakov will discuss the exhibtion at JW3 with Achim Borchardt-Hume, Director of Exhibitions at Tate Modern on October 1