The Director of the Russian Museum about the financial problems of queues for exhibitions, spectator aggression and amusement Park
Every Thursday in October and November, the Russian Museum can be visited free of charge. The action applies to the exhibition “Kandinsky and Russia” — the biggest project of the Russian Museum this season. Columnist of “Izvestia” discussed with the Director of the organization Vladimir Gusev current exposure and future plans.
— Why for the anniversary exhibition of Kandinsky’s you chose the aspect — early work associated with Russia?
— To paraphrase Anna Akhmatova, one can say: “if only you knew from what rubbish growing Russian avant-garde, without shame”. On Kandinsky was greatly influenced by folk art and icons. There are his memories of how he was amazed when in a peasant hut. How many colors, how people decorated their belongings, even in simple families… It’s origins. Very interesting to see how gradually developed the style of the avant-garde. Our collection is unique in the fact that Kandinsky, Chagall, and Malevich, we present his early work. It’s not in Western European museums. When Chagall and Kandinsky left their work here, in St. Petersburg, in Russian Museum.
Foreigners should be particularly interesting to visit this exhibition.
Yeah, so after St. Petersburg the exhibition “Kandinsky and Russia” as a whole will go to Spain. In January and February it can be seen in our branch in Malaga. We’ve been working there for three years, Spaniards were very receptive audience.
— This year you have another major exhibition of Aivazovsky. Compete with the Tretyakov gallery?
— We are in constant dialogue. Sometimes they do early, or is. Similarly, we have had an exhibition Serov, but we tried to open the other side of the Serov art which is not associated with portraits. And Aivazovsky will be your design, things in Moscow were not demonstrated. Including documents and materials of the House-Museum of Aivazovsky in Feodosia.
— Even this year, as the Pushkin Museum, showed Bakst. How do you assess the results of this exhibition and the last season in General?
— Bakst was no queue. But a lot of people standing in line for “the Circle” by Petrov-Vodkin. On Aivazovsky turn will be required. In General, the results of the last season is not bad. The stream of visitors grows, but we do not pursue quantity.
— Turn to the exhibition — is it good?
— On the one hand, it’s nice to increase the attendance. But on the other hand, the viewer should be comfortable and the crowds in the Museum halls prevent to see the pictures. Sometimes the visit is for show.
— Can we say that now started on the Museum boom?
— It started not now, but in 1980-e years, oddly enough. In the period of perestroika lined up in long queues at the Russian Museum. But individual visitors were few, because people have not enough money to arrive from distant cities of Russia. Now the number of tourists from Russia and from other countries is much increased.
— How the audience has changed over the years?
— The Soviet visitor has been violent. He was concerned, corresponds to the exhibition of the ideology or not, why do we promote religion and the like. Someone was indignant, why the artist smears black paint… But when a person has a choice, he becomes less aggressive.
Russian Museum is a good because we have a lot of palaces, so every visitor can choose their exposure to taste. Young people prefer modern art, the technical intelligentsia — the exhibition in the marble Palace. Someone who likes traditional art and go to the main building, in the Stroganov Palace… Our audience is not floods of complaints the regional party Committee.
— The perception of youth differs from the older generation?
— A young spectator perceives the exposure is bad, full of static pictures or simple sculptures. He needed movement, he was accustomed to the flickering in Facebook, on the computer screen. Therefore, we implement modern electronic technology. But it is important that it did not overshadow the originals. The Museum needs to change, to fight for young readers, but he can’t turn into an amusement Park.
— What prevents the Russian Museum to develop?
— The main problem is financial, of course. And serious development problems no.
— The crisis hit you too?
— Of course. The fact that sponsorship has become more difficult to attract. Because private capital their problems.
— Do Museum program is now added to the collection through acquisitions?
— Such a program, unfortunately, is not and cannot be. Because the state has ceased to Finance the purchase of exhibits. We often sadly looking for offered for auction things, their price is prohibitive for us. Basically, the replenishment occurs at the expense of donations of contemporary artists, whose exhibitions we hold.
Current artists will be on a par with the great names?
— I do not have time to run for contemporary art. It has changed a lot. Not only visually, but especially in the area of the form. And changed its function in society. Art is no longer perceived as a textbook of life. It was provocative, defiant protest because it goes against something protest.
Our world is not getting better, there is no harmony. Disappears and harmony of art. But why spit and curse of modern artists? The problem is that none of the critics and art theorists cannot say exactly why this or that artist is good. The exact criteria has not been developed.
— Would be the exact criteria in the art in principle?
— Of course. What distinguishes Leonardo da Vinci from artist Tutykhina, can be explained. Color, color, building shape, composition… And what a good one or the other installation in contemporary art is sometimes very difficult to argue. Here much is determined by the market, including in Russia. It is neither good nor bad — it’s happened.
Sometimes at shows in backstage conversations is: “Oh, look, last year he went for 50 thousand, and this is over 80”. And tomorrow “it” will be already 100 thousand Themselves gallerists contribute to the fact that something was acquired and spun — then they need to return their costs.
— How to behave in this situation, the Russian Museum?
— The Museum should be a bit above the fray. Can not fully open the door and put themselves to all contemporary artists. The function of the Museum is to preserve the past in the present and the present for the future. Our collection have to let our descendants one hundred years later, to show what was the art in the late XX — early XXI century. No matter, like it someone or not.
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Vladimir Gusev graduated from the Leningrad Institute of painting, sculpture and architecture. I. E. Repin. Since 1978 works in the Russian Museum. He held the positions of head of the Department of contemporary art, Deputy Director for scientific work. Since 1988 — Director of the Russian Museum. Honored art worker of the Russian Federation, candidate of art criticism, member of the Russian Academy of arts. Member of the presidential Commission of the Russian Federation on state awards in literature and art.
