Arctic Region in Russian literature and art spotlighted at the Presidential Library

July 1, 2021 the Presidential Library (Senate Square, 3) hosted the grand opening of the exhibition The Northern Route: The Arctic in Russian Literature and Art. The exposition tells about Russian writers, followed by artists and, already in the 20th century, filmmakers, to show in their works the peculiarities and traditions of the life of the peoples of the North, the exotic beauty and wealth of the Arctic, the ideas about this harsh land and its heroes.

The event was attended by acting Director General of the Presidential Library Pavel Tereshchenko; Director Genral of the Lenfilm Production Center Sergei Egorov; Executive Director of the Juliana Semyonov Cultural Foundation Alexei Repin; and acting head Anna Bulatova, Deputy Chairperson of the St. Petersburg Committee for Arctic Affairs; Director of the Central State Archive of Literature and Art of St. Petersburg Lyudmila Nikolaeva; Tatiana Akulova-Konetskaya, the widow of the writer Viktor Konetsky.

The exhibition features unique book editions of the 19th – 20th centuries, dedicated to the study and description of the northern coastal regions of Russia and the life of their inhabitants. The exposition also includes the first editions of books, the authors of which personally participated in polar expeditions. Among the presented literary works are the works of famous Soviet explorers of the Arctic: sea captain, Hero of the Soviet Union Konstantin Badigin, Rear Admiral, twice Hero of the Soviet Union Ivan Papanin, Major General of Aviation, Hero of the Soviet Union Mikhail Vodopyanov and many others.

Visitors to the exhibition have opportunity to see manuscripts and typewritten texts about the Arctic with corrections by the authors: Veniamin Kaverin, Yuri German, Valentin Pikul, Yulian Semyonov, Oleg Kuvaev, Viktor Konetsky. The exhibition is combined with the personal belongings of some writers, provided by their heirs.

The richly illustrated editions of Alexander Borisov “At the Samoyeds. From Pinega to the Kara Sea: Travel Sketches of the Artist Alexander Alekseevich Borisov" (1907), Vasily Nemirovich-Danchenko "The Country of Cold: Seen and Heard" (1877) and others are of special interest.

The way the Arctic was seen in the 18th-19th centuries is available through historical maps. The exhibition is complemented by reproductions of 19th century prints and drawings depicting the indigenous inhabitants of the Arctic.

Visitors to the exhibition will be able to see the beauty of the Far North through the prism of the works of the first painter of the Arctic Alexander Borisov, the Nenets artist and educator Tyko Vylka, the outstanding painter and graphic artist Valentin Serov and many others.

Particular attention in the exposition is paid to the Arctic theme in the domestic cinema. Fragments of famous films will be shown in the exhibition halls, in addition, the Presidential Library’s attendees will be able to study materials provided by the Mosfilm and Lenfilm film companies: posters and original scripts of such classic films as Two Captains, Seven Brave Men, Red Tent and others.

Visitors to the exhibition will also have the opportunity to learn about the peculiarities of the nature of the Arctic zone without leaving the Presidential Library. The Karpinsky All-Russian Research Geological Institute provided for the exposition the minerals mined in Chukotka.

The exhibition The Northern Route: The Arctic in Russian Literature and Art will run until September 30, 2021.

To visit the exposition please first register by phone (812) 334-25-14 or send an e-mail to excursion@prlib.ru.

The organizers of the exhibition are the Presidential Library and the Yulian Semyonov Cultural Foundation.

The creation of a large-scale exposition that maximally reveals the image of the Arctic was made possible by materials provided by the exhibition partners: the M. Gorky Scientific Library of St. Petersburg State University, the Central Naval Library, the Central State Archive of Film and Photo Documents of St. Petersburg, the Central State Archive of Literature and Art of St. Petersburg, the State Museum Association "Artistic Culture of the Russian North", the Karpinsky All-Russian Geological Research Institute, the Kenozersky National Park, the Center for Humanitarian Problems of the Kola Science Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Museum of the Defence of Sevastopol, the Krasin Icebreaker Branch of the Museum of the World Ocean in St. Petersburg, the Lenfilm film studio, the cinema concern Mosfilm, the editorial board of Rossiyskaya Gazeta, the widow of the writer Viktor Konetsky, Tatyana Akulova-Konetskaya, the nephew of the writer Oleg Kuvaev, Dmitry Kuvaev, the widow of the writer Valentin Pikul, Antonina Pikul.

Accreditation of media representatives is until 14:00 June 30, 2021.

Please forward applications for accreditation following the attached form marked “Media Accreditation” to the following e-mail addresses: media@prlib.ru, titunina@prlib.ru Kristina Titunina, tel.: (812) 305-16-21, ext. 781; mob. +7 (999) 218-05-98.

The letter should contain the full name, date and place of birth, passport data (series, number, place of registration), a list of carry-on equipment, contact phone numbers, the name of the media.

We draw the attention of the media representatives that it is necessary to forward applications for accreditation and arrive at the event in advance.

Entrance to the Presidential Library is carried out only by prior registration and upon showing a passport: for media representatives - through entrance № 2, participants and guests of the event - through entrance № 1.

In order to reduce the risks of the spread of a new coronavirus infection (COVID-19), the use of personal protective equipment during the event is mandatory for all attendees.