The Russian Academy Of Arts

On May 20, 2009 at the award ceremony in the Russian Academy of Arts Honorary Diplomas of Advisers to the Harbin Society of Russian Culture and Chinese Art were presented to Zurab Tsereteli, President of the Russian Academy of Arts, People’s Artist of Russia; Dmitry Zhilinsky, member of the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Arts, People’s Artist of Russia; Nikolai Solomin, Full Member of the Russian Academy of Arts, People’s Artist of Russia.

The executive director of the Harbin Society of Russian Culture and Chinese Art Mr. Yuan Sin has noted in his greeting address that this action will give a new incentive to the promotion of cultural relations between China and Russia as well as to strengthening the historical friendship between the two nations.

Mr. Yuan Sin has also said, that the establishment of the Harbin Society of Russian Culture and Chinese Art has deep historical roots: one hundred years ago over 10000 Russian people lived in Harbin, that was 30% of the population of the city which was then a major center of White Russian emigrants. Saint Sofia Cathedral in Harbin, Russian Orthodox church completed in 1932 is a monument of the Russian immigration architecture and a reminder of the Russian legacy. Also well known is the Sun Island in Harbin, where the living pattern and traditions of the Russians were closely interwoven with everyday life and customs of the local Chinese population, that gave the Island a unique atmosphere and color. Today, the Island is a kind of a cultural centre including the Russian Artists Village, Museum of Russian Art, art galleries.

Mr. Yuan Sin invited Zurab Tsereteli to come to China in late September to take part in the events in honor of the 60th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China.

Zurab Tsereteli thanked Mr. Yuan Sin for the honor to be Advisers to the Harbin Society of Russian Culture and Chinese Art. He shared the impressions of his first acquaintance with the Chinese who lived in Georgia and amazed him by their skills in painting on silk cloth. He has noted, that today many Chinese students study at the Academy Art Institutes in Moscow and St. Petersburg and there is an active exchange of exhibitions. Zurab Tsereteli assured, that the Russian Academy of Arts would support all friendly initiatives between masters of fine arts of the two countries.

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