Expo spotlights key figures in Russian art history

Qatar Museums (QM) has invited art and history enthusiasts in the country to visit the “Russian Avant-garde: Pioneers and Direct Descendants” exhibition ahead of its closing date on February 3.Organised in collaboration with the world-renowned State Tretyakov Gallery and hosted at the Fire Station Garage Gallery in Doha, the exhibition is a highlight of last year’s Qatar-Russia Year of Culture.Sponsored by Russian oil company Rosneft, the exhibition is curated by the head of the Contemporary Art Department at the State Tretyakov Gallery Irina Gorlova and showcases 81 masterpieces from some of the most influential and significant figures in Russian art history. The exhibition traces the connections between the revolutionary pioneers of the early 20th century, including Vladimir Tatlin, Alexander Rodchenko and Mikhail Matyushin, with the creations of the artists of the second avant-garde wave, such as Vyacheslav Koleichuk, Francisco Infante-Arana, Rimma Zanevskaya-Sapgir, and Mikhail Roginsky amongst others. “Russian artists left a mark on the global narrative of art,” said Reem al-Thani, director of Exhibitions at QM. “These avant-garde pioneers broke new ground and challenged tradition to create radical forms of expression.”“We were very proud to collaborate with the State Tretyakov Gallery to present audiences in Qatar with an in-depth examination of a key period in Russia’s history. I invite all art and history enthusiasts in Qatar to make use of this opportunity to visit the exhibition ahead of its closing next week,” the director added.The exhibition’s opening was part of the rich programme organised for Qatar Russia 2018 Year of Culture. The Year, which was sponsored by Qatar Airways, was planned in collaboration with leading institutions in Qatar and Russia, including the Qatar embassy in Moscow, the Russian embassy in Doha, the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, Qatar’s Ministry of Culture and Sport and the State Museum and Exhibition Center.