RUSSIA. BREAD. SALT.
Dates: 1 of May 2015 – 31 of October 2015
Venue: Pavilion of Russia at "EXPO-2015", Milan, Italy
Organizers: Russia Expo 2015 the Moscow Museum of Design
The exhibition "Russia. Bread. Salt ", prepared by the Moscow Museum of Design, introduces viewers to the international exhibition" EXPO – 2015 "with the rich cultural heritage of Russia in the field of design, showing the work of iconic artists early XX century, which reflect the theme of labor and agriculture.
The exhibition is dedicated to one of the most important directions of Russian art – avant-garde.
In the first decades of the XX century, the rapid development of industry and agriculture, the romance of free labor inspired Russian artists to create design objects – porcelain, textiles – in drawings for which there were images of ears, sheaves, sickles, tractors. Today, porcelain plates and drawings for fabrics, carolers agricultural labor became rarity museum exhibits.
At the beginning of the XX century avant-garde artists have formulated basic training of profession of designer. Alexander Rodchenko with slogan for VHUTEMAS "Our business today is: mug, broom, boots, catalog … Yesterday we were artists – Today we are designers" formulated the setting for the designer – to be a creator capable rationally, advisable organize the work, life and living. Following this setting, the artists of 1920's become designers of the "new life." Constructivism has become one of the most utilitarian trends of avant-garde. It was closely associated with architecture and industry and guided by the principle: to turn art into production, and production – into art. Artists – designers have designed the world with their own hands, creating objective environment – fabrics, dishes, furniture, costumes, posters, books – guided by the principles of rationality to identify structures and functions. Until now, works of the Constructivists inspire designers and architects around the world.
The exhibition includes drawings on the basis of textiles and ceramics, created by Lubov Silich, Raisa Vasilyeva, Kira Shuko, Daria Preobrazhenskaya, Sergei Chekhonin, Alexandra Schekatihinoy-Pototskaya, as well as their great contemporary Kazimir Malevich in the 1920-1930-ies. The main topics of their work – abundance, romanticizing of collective labor, machinery, aircraft, and industrial production.
The modern interpretation of the avant-garde is reflected in works of designer Elena Kitaeva. The artist develops the theme of Russian women's equality in the professional field. The exhibition features five ceramic pieces – is both and "portraits" of women – by designers Varvara Stepanova, Liubov Popova, Vera Mukhina, and the collective image of the women – toiler, by whose hands grow wheat. It is an ode to work and creativity, women's contribution to the industrialization and culture of Russia. Bright geometric compositions on scarves and dresses figures refer the viewer to an era when designers wore clothes made of fabric, the pattern for which created themselves. Fabrics were not only utilitarian but also carried the idea of a new time – for example, decorative satin "Industrialization of the village" depicting harvest of tractors or "Reapers / Peasant Woman" with ears of wheat. Now they are called propaganda textiles.
Russian avant-garde – is not just an artistic movement, it is a philosophy. Avant – garde artists ahead of their time and have received international recognition. The world today is charged of ideas and enthusiasm of the pioneers of Russian avant-garde.
Project Manager: Natalia Goldstein
Curator: Alexander Sankova
The design of the exhibition: Stepan Lukyanov
Sculptor, author of the concept: Elena Kitaeva
Coordinator: Catherine Shapkina
Moscow Museum of Design – partner of Russia Expo 2015
In 2012, in Moscow was founded Russia's only museum dedicated to the design. The main tasks of the creators of the museum see the popularization of domestic design in the country and abroad, the preservation and study of its rich heritage, acquaintance of the Russian viewers with the best and the main currents of international design.
Projects of the museum successfully take place on major exhibition venues of the country, including the Central Exhibition Hall "Manezh" and the State Museum of Fine Arts of Pushkin, as well as on the design week in Beijing in the autumn of 2015 the exhibition "The Soviet design of 1950 – 80" will open in the central exhibition hall of Rotterdam (Netherlands).
In order to educate and promote the design the museum creates a series of documentaries about the design for the TV channel "Culture", "Holland – the territory of the design", "The design for all. Sweden "," British design. Tradition and Innovation "," Great designers of Denmark "," Domestic Design of 1920 – 2020 ".
Major exhibition projects:
"The Soviet design of 1950 – 1980's" (CVM "Manezh", 2012 – 2013).
"Packaging Design: Made in Russia" (CVM "Manezh", 2013).
"General things: the Soviet and Chinese design, 1950 – 80" (Design Week, Beijing, 2013).
"New luxury. Dutch design in an age of asceticism "(CVM" Manege ", 2013 – 2014).
"Sportkult" (Gallery "Proun", 2014).
"British design: from William Morris to the digital revolution"
Elena Kitaeva – sculptor, painter, media – artist, designer. Winner of international design competitions. The constant participant of International Design Biennale in Toyama, Paris, Colorado, London, Helsinki, Lahti, Mexico City, Warsaw, Brno, solo and group exhibitions in Ogaki (Japan), Münster, Frankfurt, Berlin (Germany), Yale University (USA), DDD – Gallery (Japan), the Tretyakov Gallery, the Museum of Modern Art PERMM, the Russian Museum, the State Hermitage Museum, Guelman Gallery, Art – arrow, Vitebsk State Museum (Belarus), Gallery IMA (USA), Stedelijk Museum (Amsterdam).
Russian Pavilion at "Expo – 2015"
The history of Russia's participation in the World Expo has more than a half century, starting with the first exhibition in London in 1851. The theme of "EXPO – 2015" in Milan was "Food for the planet. Energy for Life ". The exhibition will be attended by 145 countries; it will be visited by over 20 million people. The motto of the Russian pavilion, "We are growing in peace, are cultivating for the future".
The Russian Federation is a regular participant and initiator of the discussions on the quality and availability of food for the population in the country and the world. As one of the most influential players in the international market of agricultural products, our country has a unique opportunity to ensure access of every person on the planet with quality food.
The architectural concept of the pavilion was created in Office Speech by Sergey Choban, Alexey Ilyin and Marina Kuznetsk. Pavilion of 2015 continues the tradition of the best pavilions of the USSR and Russia – repeated winners of EXPO and represents a lightning move upward aspiration.
At the exhibition in Milan the Russian pavilion will demonstrate the scale of the country in terms of food. World reserves of water and arable land, the personality of the great Russian scientists and their works, the variety of national cuisines and traditions of the peoples of Russia – all this will be represented in the popular and entertaining way, which implies not only the interactive travels but also tasting of various dishes and drinks. World Universal Exhibition runs from 1 of May to 31 of October 2015 and includes a variety of activities, dedicated to the general theme – food security, sustainable development and culinary traditions, as well as a rich cultural and business programs.
