Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Peredvizhniki
In the 19th century, artist Ivan Kramskoy led the so-called 'revolt of 14' whereby a
group of upstart artists broke away from the powerful but conservative Academy of
Arts. The mutineers considered that art should be a force for national awareness and
social change, and they depicted common people and real problems in their paintings.
The Peredvizhniki (Wanderers), as they called themselves, travelled around the coun-
try in an attempt to widen their audience (thus inspiring their moniker).
The Peredvizhniki included Vasily Surikov, who painted vivid Russian historical
scenes, and Nicholas Ghe, who favoured both historical and biblical landscapes. Per-
haps the best loved of all Russian artists, Ilya Repin has works that range from social
criticism
(Barge Haulers on the Volga)
to history
(Cossacks Writing a Letter to the
Turkish Sultan)
to portraits.
By the end of the 19th century, Russian culture was retreating from Western influ-
ences and looking instead to nationalistic themes and folk culture for inspiration.
Artists at this time invented the
matryoshka,
the quintessential Russian nesting doll.
One of the world's largest collections of
matryoshkas
is on display at the Toy Mu-
Mikhail Vrubel was inspired by Byzantine mosaics and Russian fairy tales. Painters
such as Nikolai Roerich and Mikhail Nesterov incorporated mystical themes, influen-
ced by folklore and religious traditions. All of these masters are prominently featured
MY NAME IS SHNUR
Leningrad, the punk band from St Petersburg, was banned from the radio and
forbidden from performing in Moscow by its former mayor, Yuri Luzhkov. But
such controversy only fuelled its popularity. Lead singer Sergei Shnurov claims
'Our songs are just about the good sides of life - vodka and girls, that is.'
But besides being rowdy and bawdy, the lyricist is known for his ironic insights
on contemporary culture. 'Money' satirises society's pervasive consumerism,
