The Everythingists, Es Devlin

According to artist Es Devlin ‘ The Firebird is a story about human hubris in relation to technology…we seek to capture the mythic bird always out of reach, we keep living in the future tense…yet life is only ever available in the present.’ The term ‘Everythingism’, ( Vsechestvo in Russian) was coined to describe artist Natalia Goncharova’s work across painting, theatre design, fashion and performance art: it could equally be used to describe Es Devlin’s wide ranging practice. Es Devlin has conceived ‘The Everythingists’ as a sculptural drawing in dialogue with Goncharova’s painted backdrop made for Diaghilev’s 1926 Ballet Russes production of The Firebird , choreographed by Mikhail Fokine and composed by Igor Stravinsky in 1910. Devlin has made drawings in charcoal and paint of East London-based dancer Joshua Shanny-Wynter on illuminated ply wood cut outs. Shanny-Wynter’s movements were choreographed by East London based choreographer Botis Seva, contorting between suspended rectilinear forms resembling enlarged iPhone and iPad packaging boxes and split oval masks, echoing the storage crates used throughout V&A East Storehouse. Every 90 seconds the artwork is animated by illumination and underscored by Devlin’s voice reading a series of texts over a soundtrack composed by Polyphonia. The composition is rooted in the horn solo from the finale of Igor Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite . The finale horn theme was conceived by Stravinsky to signify the lifting of the sorcerer Koschei’s curse, the return of light and life, transcendence after chaos. It was based on a traditional folk song found in a collection by Nikolai Rimsky Korsakov. Devlin reads extracts from Natalia Goncharova and Mikhail Larinov’s techno-optimistic 1913 ‘Rayonist Manifesto’, Cory Doctorow’s 2026 reflections on centaurs and reverse-centaurs in animatronics, Centaur’s Requiem (2003) by American poet Adrienne Rich and The Centaur (1958) by American science fiction writer and poet Clark Ashton Smith. The work responds to the aspirations for technology expressed in Natalia Goncharova and Mikhail Larinov’s 1913 ‘Rayonist Manifesto’, and draws on science fiction writer Cory Doctorow’s distinction between centaurs (humans empowered by machines), and reverse-centaurs (machines empowered by humans). Fabrication by Scena Sound by Polyphonia With special thanks to the V&A East Collective Community for their generous feedback Season New Work: Making East London Find out more Membership Treat yourself or a loved one with the gift of Membership: enjoy free access to all exhibitions, access to our Members’ Room, priority booking to evening talks, and much more. Join today Shop Explore the range of exclusive gifts, jewellery, prints and more. Every purchase supports the V&A Visit the shop Header image: Es Devlin with ‘The Everythingists’, V&A East New Work commission on display at V&A East Storehouse © David Parry for the V&A Back to the top Sign up to our emails Hear about collections, exhibitions, courses and events from the V&A and ways you can support us. You can change your preferences or opt out of hearing from us at any time using the unsubscribe link in our emails. Read our full privacy notice . Victoria and Albert Museum About the V&A About us Contact us Our work National work International work Research Conservation Press Careers Join & Support Membership Corporate partnerships FuturePlan Donate Volunteer Resources Explore the Collections V&A Academy National Art Library Photography Centre Study Rooms Archives Order an Object Blog Commercial Shop Licensing Publishing V&A images Exhibitions for hire Venue hire Visit the V&A V&A South Kensington Daily: 10.00 – 17.45 Friday: 10.00 – 22.00 Admission is free Cromwell Road London SW7 2RL Plan your visit Access information V&A Dundee Daily: 10.00 – 17.00 (Closed on Tuesdays January – March) Admission is free 1 Riverside Esplanade, Dundee DD1 4EZ V&A Dundee website Access information V&A Wedgwood Collection Daily: 10.00 – 17.00 Admission is free Wedgwood Drive, Barlaston, Stoke-on-Trent ST12 9ER Plan your visit Young V&A Daily: 10.00 – 17.45 Admission is free Cambridge Heath Rd, Bethnal Green, London E2 9PA Plan your visit Access information V&A East Storehouse Daily: 10.00 – 18.00 Thu and Sat: 10.00 – 22.00 Admission is free 2 Parkes Street, London E20 3AX Plan your visit V&A East Museum Opening 2026 Admission is free 107 Carpenters Rd, London E20 2AR About V&A East +44 (0)20 7942 2000 hello@vam.ac.uk Privacy notice and cookies Terms of use Accessibility statement © Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 2026