Exhibition of Russian Lacquer Art

GAZPROM Germania Sponsors Exhibition of Miniature Lacquer Art

The touring exhibition, The Palekh School, 1923-1950, brings together works of lacquer art from the most important Russian collections and items from the Museum for Lacquer Art for the first time. It can be visited from 17 October 2010 to 13 February 2011 in the Museum for Lacquer Art in Münster, and from 24 February to 1 May 2011 in the Bröhan Museum in Berlin.

The exhibition is unique in the way it has gathered the most important Russian collections under one roof to present a coherent overview of early Soviet lacquer art and tell the history of the Palekh School from its foundation to the end of the Second World War.

Once the centre of Russian icon-painting, the October Revolution and the construction of the communist-atheist Soviet Union forced lacquer artists from Palekh to abandon the traditional religious motifs of their art in favour of secular and political themes. Palekh artists were able to continue to work even after the Revolution by putting their fine painting skills into practice in lacquer art on papier-mâché using the tempera technique. In rural scenes, scenes from Russian fairytales and heroic epics, as well as political motifs, the objects they produced reflect aspects of Russian life and bear witness to its fascinating and turbulent history.

Through its support for the exhibition, GAZPROM Germania aims to increase awareness of Russian art, culture, and history in Germany. In its dedication to a wide range of cultural and social projects, GAZPROM Germania strives to strengthen German-Russian dialogue and thus promote greater mutual understanding.

Links:

Museum für Lackkunst

Bröhan Museum