Russian culture abroad: Photo exhibition in Prague showcases Russian wooden architecture masterpieces

The “Disappearing masterpieces” exhibition, which is kicking off July 4, 2011 at the exhibition hall of the Ministry of Culture of Czech Republic, Prague will shed light on the masterpieces of Russian wooden architecture. “This exhibition is a key event of a joint project implemented by Russia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia bearing the same name, which has been supported by the European Union”, said Alexandra Shatkovskaya, Head of the Developing Department of Kenozero national park in Arkhangelsk Oblast – one of Russia’s participants of the exhibition.

She mentioned that for the first time the Czech Republic has made such a wide coverage of materials on the wooden architecture of Russia – the impressive display of talent of old Russian masters. “The exhibition will familiarize visitors with Russian museums and national parks – custodians of unique heritage, as well as different approaches to monument restoration, which permits to give them “second life”, Ms. Shatkovskaya said. She added that the exhibition is putting on show both archival and modern photographs, video materials, documents which highlight the history and the present day of wooden architecture in Russia.

The exhibition has brought together Czech and Slovakian museums of traditional architecture. Russia, in particular, is represented by Kenozero and Vodlozero (Karelia) national parks, Vologda Oblast Museum of Architecture and Ethnography and Wooden Architecture and Folk Art Museum “Malye Korely” near Arkhangelsk.

The exhibition will run in Prague till July 31, and after that it will travel to Wallachian Open Air Museum to hold the exhibition until August 30. Then it will move to Russia to go on display in Petrozavodsk, Vologda, Arkhangelsk and Moscow.