VLADIMIR KUSTOV. THE APPROACH OF PAST
The Approach to Past project that was created by the artist Vladimir Kustov in 2004 specially for the Russian Museum is devoted to the one of most tragic pages of the Leningrad Battle – the struggles for the Sinyavino heights during which many soviet warriors were killed. The exact number of the victims of these struggles is not determined till nowadays. Despite the fact that the planned at the Soviet time grandiose war historian memorial was not created, the Sinyavino heights the area of struggles and tombs had been marked by the Alleys of glory and obelisks that were erected by enthusiasts. Standing on the places of bloody struggles, the artist was astonished by the memorial character of the landscape itself. These places that are wounded by the traces of trenches was comprehended by the artist like a real monument. The project that is presented in the Marble Palace is devoted to memory that is the theme that with which regularly Kustov works. With the idea of memory the technical means (video and number photograph), used by the author, are also connected.
The artist brings past closer to him in three stages that are presented in exposition three plans. First and the largest of them are the panoramas that have no names, only the numbers. The panorama photographs made on Sinyavino heights are lonely, quite and nameless on principle like the nameless soldiers that are still unburied. The second, more detailed approach to past are the marks of war. They had fall out from the time to become the mention about the war. The third approach is most close. This is the so-called texture of war (earth, gun powder, metal, tobacco, bread, ashes, bandages and salt) that were commemorated with the means of macro photograph. The airless space that surrounds the things of war is deepen in the Sinyavino Symphony. In this video (sound by Stepan Toropov) two plans are combined: the present – the panorama of landscape that is photographed by the artist, and the past – documental chronicle of defense of Leningrad.
17 May—10 November 2025
The exhibition explores the presence of dogs in Russian life and art. It addresses a historical process in all its forms – from the history of the state to the narrative of everyday life. A significant portion of the works on display were created in the 20th century and during the first two decades of the 21st century. Artist and dog have traveled a long road together in Russian art, and this journey still holds the promise of many discoveries to come.
Assemblage, Object, Installation
26 February—21 April 2025
The Russian Museum continues to acquaint its visitors with various types and movements of contemporary art. The exhibition traces the evolution of assemblage, object and installation in Russian art. Once shocking with their novelty and peculiar nature, now they are no longer perceived as a “slap to the face of public taste” but occupy a firm place on the contemporary art scene.
- 15 October—10 November 2025 > Mikhailovsky Palace A Masterpiece of Russian Architecture On the 200th Anniversary of the Mikhailovsky Palace
- 8 October 2025—1 February 2026 > Mikhailovsky Palace Portrait of the Empire: Ilya Repin and the State Council
The collection of masterpieces, chosen by the Russian Museum will allow you to make a first impression of the collection of the Russian Museum.
Russian Museum - one of the world's largest museums and is perhaps the only country where such a full treasure of national culture are presented.
Virtual tour of the museum complex. 2009 (Rus., Eng., Ger., Fin.)
In the online shop of the Russian Museum presented a huge range of souvenirs, illustrated editions and multimedia disks.
