Meine russische Provinz

Eröffnung der Ausstellung „Meine russische Provinz“ des Staatlichen Freilichtmuseums Jelabuga. Die Ausstellung ist bis 9. Dezember offen. Freier Eintritt.

The exhibition «My Russian province» presents the works of participants of international art symposia on contemporary art from the stock collection of the Yelabuga State Historical-Architectural and Art Museum-Reserve (Russia, Republic of Tatarstan, Yelabuga). The exhibition includes 45 paintings and drawings (watercolor, pencil, linocut) by 98 artists.

National heritage and its creative reinterpretation in professional art are becoming increasingly relevant in the modern visual process in many countries of the world. This trend is actively supported by ethno-artistic activities of the Yelabuga State Museum-Reserve, which is the initiator and organizer of international art symposia on contemporary art with the support of the ministries of culture of Russia and Tatarstan. Acting as a center of spiritual and creative communication of representatives of different national cultures, the Museum-Reserve attracts the attention of the artistic community of Russia and abroad to the preser vation of historical memory, national heritage and the development of interethnic cultural dialogue.

The author of the art symposia in Yelabuga is Gulzada Rudenko – General Director of Yelabuga State Museum-Reserve, Honoured worker of culture of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Tatarstan, a public figure.

The history of art symposia in Yelabuga begins in 2006, when the first all-Russian plein air dedicated to the 175th anniversary of the birth of our countryman, the great Russian landscape painter Ivan Shishkin and the upcoming 1000th anniversary of the town took place. Gradually, art symposia acquired ethnic orientation, and since 2010 – the status of international. In total, for 14 years, the Museum-Reserve held 24 art projects, which were attended by 836 artists from 27 countries: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Afghanistan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Hungary, Egypt, India, Italy, Kazakhstan, Canada, China, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Portugal, Russia, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, France, Czech Republic, Montenegro, Scotland (UK), Ethiopia.

The exhibition «My Russian province» presents the work of participants of art symposiums of different years. The main symbol of the exhibition was the ancient Russian merchant town of Yelabuga, which is rightly considered the pearl of Tatarstan. Landscape works acquaint with the views of the town-old streets, churches, chapel of Alexander Nevsky. The largest in the Kama region Spassky Cathedral, built in the 19th century – one of the architectural dominants of the historic part of Yelabuga, at all times attracting the attention of artists with its majestic beauty. Built of hewn stone the tower of Yelabuga («Devil») settlement, the same age as the millennial town, also does not leave indifferent participants of art projects. A unique monument of medieval architecture of 11th-12th centuries in our time has become a hallmark of the town.

Yelabuga, which has a long history, is located on the Kama river, where both Turkic and Finno-Ugric and Slavic peoples have lived since ancient times.

In their works, the masters turned to the origins of Russian culture – the folk holiday of the summer solstice of Ivan Kupala, songs, ditties and lullabies. Its embodiment on the canvases received the heroes of the old Russian epic «The Word of Igor's Campaign». Survived the century and taken by artists as a basis in the creative search for lubok is a vivid indicator of the sharpness and humor of the Russian people.

Images associated with the Christian religion: the patron saints of the family Peter and Fevronia of Murom, biblical heroes – king Solomon and his beloved, the new Testament Joseph and the virgin Mary, harmoniously enter the world of modern viewers thanks to the author's interpretation of artists, reveal the theme of love and devotion, the beauty of the relationship between men and women.