Russian art in London and vice-versa

This weekend, the “Hermitage Garden” in Moscow turns into ‘goode olde England’, while the British capital is swept up with Russian art.

However, the Russian Art Fair in London is a much more massive and ambitious project. Coinciding with a week of Russian art sales by the major auction houses, the fair welcomes dozens of the largest galleries specializing in Russian art from France, Germany, the USA, Great Britain, Israel and, of course, Russia.

Russian Art Fair Limited

The fair is taking place for the first time, gathering Russian art works, old books and paintings along with other authentic objects.

The Russian Art Fair London promises to collect quite a number of significant art works – from antiquarian books and silver to rare icons.

Against the backdrop of the financial crisis, the decision of the organizers to launch the fair looks risky. However, the demand for Russian art in London remains high and stable, which is why, despite the crisis, the organizers are assured that the event will be successful and will become an annual event in the life of the British capital.

In selecting galleries, the organizers aspired to keep a balance between iconography, 19th and 20th Century art, socialist realism and modern art. Socialist art traditionally causes much interest not only among Russian collectors, but also among those from the USA, UK and Europe.

Curiously enough, the Russian Art Fair in London kicked off simultaneously with the Anglomania Festival in the Russian capital.

London in Moscow

The Anglomania Festival is held in Moscow’s “Hermitage Garden”, which has been divided into thematic zones, each given the names of legendary sights in the British capital. The festival of British design and lifestyle is being held in Moscow for the second time, with the support of the British Embassy.

Each zone of the festival has received a name of a significant thematic area of London. “Hyde Park” zone is a lounge with British music. “Oxford” zone welcomes lectures on British design, including one from one of the best schools of design in England “KLC”. English literature, modern photography and other spheres of modern art are also discussed here.

The “Covent Garden” area is a theatrical scene both here and in London. Street theatre acts perform here every hour, with fascinating productions of Hamlet episodes.

Here in this Moscow park, the “Portobello” zone, which is a market area in London, aims to provide visitors with authentic British paraphernalia, including antique books and rare films. And ladies can order a dress having chosen the cloth, style and size right here.

Typically-British red telephone booths, a double-decker bus, British music, literature and design – everything makes you feel like you’re in England this weekend, right in the centre of Moscow.