ATHOS: Exhibition Culturological Project in the Museum and Exhibition Complex “New Jerusalem”

June 2 – August 7, 2016
Museum and Exhibition Complex “New Jerusalem”
1 Novo-Jerusalem Embankment
Istra, Moscow region

The Museum and Exhibition Complex “New Jerusalem” and the Russian Academy of Arts in the jubilee year of the 1000th anniversary of Russian monastic presence on the Holy Mount Athos present a major culturological project “Athos”.

Under the support of the Russian World Foundation there has been organized a rare opportunity for Academicians of the Russian Academy of Arts to paint en plein air on the Holy Mount Athos. The authors of the project are brothers Ivan and Mickhail Masteropulo – sons of the Honored Artist, internationally recognized master of monumental painting Nicholas Masteropulo. In the Holy Kinot the archpriest Simeon blessed a series of creative trips to Athos for distinguished modern masters, Academicians of the Russian Academy of Arts.

During they stay in Athos the artists visited Karyes - the capital of the Monastic State of the Holy Mountain, as well as the monasteries: Dionysiou monastery, Great Lavra monastery, Iviron monastery, Stavronikita monastery,  Vatopedi, Agiou Panteleimonos monastery (Russian), Helandariou monastery (Serbian), Agiou Pavlou monastery, Filotheou monastery, Osiou Grigoriou monastery, Koutloumousiou monastery and sketes of St. Ann, St. Andrew, St. John the Baptist,  New skete, the cave and spring of St. Athanasius, cell of hermit Father Joseph and other cells. Traveling in Athos, communication with its elders and monks, prayer standings at church services, an opportunity to venerate the great Orthodox shrines, to see old frescoes and unique holy sites allowed them to experience an atmosphere of monastic life and to obtain extraordinary impressions for their future artworks. Under the influence of amazing landscapes, stunning views, monumental monastic buildings the participants of these plein airs made numerous sketches and drawings.

The exhibition in the Museum and Exhibition Complex “New Jerusalem” features works by Academicians of the Russian Academy of Arts executed in various techniques such as graphic sheets in mixed  media by V.G. Kalinin, pastels by V.A. Bubnov, enamels by Z.K. Tsereteli, frescoes by E.N. Maximov, waters colors by V.A. Kulakov, canvases by N.V. Medvedev,  V.N. Razgulin, sculptural compositions of G.I. Krasnoshlykov and S.A. Antonov.

Since August 23, 2016 the exhibition in honor of the 1000th anniversary of Russian monastic presence will be on display at the Russian Academy of Arts.    





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