Exhibitions: Paintings of the XVII – XXI centuries presented in the project “From the icon to avant-garde. Spiritual metamorphosis of Russian Art” in Arkhangelsk

Paintings of the XVII – XXI centuries are presented in one exhibition project of the State Museum Association “Art Culture of the Russian North” (Arkhangelsk) – “From the icon to avant-garde. Spiritual metamorphosis of Russian Art”.

The exposition features about 70 unique works of art from the collection of the museum association, reflecting the main stages and features of the development of Russian art from icon painting to avant-garde.

According to organizers, the purpose of the exhibition is to show spiritual evolution of Russian art, its unique mentality.

Visitors will see unique northern icons, paintings of such representatives of the domestic classical art as Vasily Polenov, Nikolai Ge, Nikolai Bogdanov-Belsky, Philip Maljavin, Alexander Kuprin, Konstantin Korovin, Russian avant-garde masterpieces by Olga Rozanova, Vladimir Sterligov, Tatiana Glebova and other masters.

One part of the exposition is built in chronological order: here is presented the old icon, a portrait of the 19 century, Bible stories in the interpretation of Russian artists of the academic paintings, avant-garde artists of the last century.

The second part of the exposition is more interesting in its decision: here is highlighted a number of themes which put together an icon and a modern painting. For example, one of the main underlying images – the image of mother – is presented by the ancient icon of Our lady, a fragment of painting of Kronstadt Cathedral Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin and the works by contemporary artists.

The exhibition “From the icon to avant-garde. Spiritual metamorphosis of the Russian art” will run until November 11, 2014.