Welcome to the documentary The Cultural Frontline from the BBC World Service.

20 years ago, hundreds of previously unknown masterpieces by leading artists of the Russian avant-garde from just one collection

suddenly burst onto the art scene causing excitement, high demand, and high prices. But are they real or just worthless fakes?

I'm Grigor Attanesian, a journalist with the BBC Russian Service

and I have been working with three specialists turned odd detectives,

Constantine Akinsha, Andreva Ciliff and James Botwick, as well as forensic experts for a BBC TV documentary to discover more about the authenticity

of the works of art from one mysterious source, the Zax collection. The problem is not just that the Russian avant-garde forgeries are

being sold for millions of dollars. Forgeries are turning up in museums, in

exhibitions, and in art books. There are so many forgeries. The Russian avant-garde is a brief but explosive experiment in modern art that pioneered bold

geometrical shapes and dynamic color. It was developed in the early 20th century

by artists from territories that are now part of Ukraine, Russia and Belarus.

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine many people also use the term Soviet and Ukrainian

avant-Gard as well. Art Historian Curate and Ukrainian

historical historical journalist Constantinople Kinsha.

Why this movement so important

why this movement so important

it was a form of radical modernism which rejected all the standards

and foundations of the pre-existing art.

In the early years of Soviet power, avant-Gad became more or less the official art movement of the new Russia.

But this celebration of this radical experiment didn't last long.

By the mid-1930s, the were banned by Stalin and only rediscovered after the Second World War.

Demand began, but there was very little supply.

...