Editorial

Михаил Шишин Mikhail Shishin


Dear Readers!

Here is the next issue of the “The Art of Eurasia” journal. Thanks to our regular and new authors, we seem to have fulfilled our strategic task — to make the journal both interesting and diverse.

The new issue is opened by the heading “Eurasian Heritage”. Those who are regular readers have probably noticed our desire to collect articles in such a way that they complement each other, reveal one topic from different sides. Thus, folk costume reflects not only the artistic talent of the creators and aesthetic values, but also the picture of the world, which is clearly seen in articles about the traditional costume of Kalmykia and the peoples of the North.

The art of the 20th – 21st centuries, although, it would seem, in time is close to us, but there are many spaces that have not yet been described and have not been studied. In this section, our authors talk about the works of the outstanding artist, traveler and fighter for the preservation of culture Nicholas Roerich, presented in one of the richest collections in the eastern regions of Russia — the Primorye State Art Gallery. You can get acquainted with the artist and author of the original philosophy of art, Alexander Rychkov-Galaktionov, in an essay that presents his views and works in detail. Buryatia, according to many art critics, now rightfully occupies one of the leading places in contemporary art. The third article of this section tells about masters of all kinds of arts and the acquisition of a unique collection.

Each issue of our journal has a main theme. Now we present the results of a major scientific forum, which took place on the basis of the Primorye State Art Gallery. Persistently and effectively — through exhibitions, conferences, their publications — the staff of this gallery realizes the important task of uniting artistic communities in the Asia-Pacific region. And here the forum “The Artistic Life of the Russian Far East and the Countries of the Asia-Pacific Region” became an important stage. This is evidenced by the participation in this forum of art critics from many regions of Russia, as well as Mongolia, Korea, China and other countries. A wide range of topics was covered: about one of the first art critics of Primorye Vitaly Kandyba, about the mutual influence of Chinese and Russian contemporary art, about the peculiarities of the style of socialist realism in Mongolia.

Within the framework of the forum in Vladivostok, the traditional “Days of the Hermitage in Vladivostok” took place. Our journal reflected it in a series of articles in the section “On Storerooms and Expositions of Museums and Art Galleries.” Here were presented the results of the most complex restoration work carried out by the Hermitage restorers, when unique works were literally revived from oblivion. Reading these articles, one is amazed at the skill, intuition, the highest knowledge and even reverence with which the restorers approached their work and without which it was impossible to save the masterpieces of the past.

The heading “Philosophy and Theory of Art” publishes an article that we consider as a possible start for a serious discussion about the regional originality of forms of fine art. On the one hand, it would seem that in many regions, under the influence of various factors, specific features in painting, graphics, and much less often in sculpture were clearly manifested. On the other hand, if you try to compare the art of, for example, Russia and Mongolia in a wide scope, then despite the fact that many Mongolian artists were educated in Russia, they were still able to subsequently combine the acquired skills and knowledge with the traditions of the Mongolian school of art.

In the section “Dictionary of Buddhist Iconography by Lokesh Chandra” the article "Paramita" is presented. For researchers and curators of Buddhist art collections, the indications of the Kalrita and the main attributes of twelve Paramit goddesses will be valuable.

Under the heading “Ex Libris” we present new albums and scientific publications about the fine arts. In this issue, they are dedicated to the salvation of the Hermitage's masterpieces during the war years, the memories of Primorye artists, and also tells about a unique album of Russian and Mongolian artists, timed to coincide with the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Also shown in detail is the work on the unification, study and publication of the heritage of Soviet architects A.V. Makhrovskaya, V.N. Kochedamova and A.N. Naumov within the framework of the “Preserved Culture” project.

Our traditional heading “Academy News” presents a wide palette of exhibitions by members of the Academy. It reveals the stylistic diversity of contemporary art, the position of artists in relation to the historical heritage and to the present — at personal exhibitions and thematic projects telling about the masterpieces of Russian art in the United States, collections from the museum fund of the Russian Academy of Arts, and at the exhibition of restored works and copies of ancient frescoes made by A.N. Ovchinnikov, from the unique collection of the Grabar Art Conservation Center.

Dear readers, this is the sixth time we celebrate the New Year together. Let this issue become a festive gift both for our authors and for everyone who draws from art the joy of meeting beauty, who opens the way to the field of creativity, who is looking for answers to the troubling questions of our time. Art, like no other sphere of human life and activity, helps us in all this. Nicholas Roerich wrote: “Art will unite humanity. Art is one and indivisible. Art has many branches, but the root is one... The light of art will illuminate countless hearts with new love. At first, this feeling will come unconsciously, but after that it will clear all human consciousness. And how many young hearts are looking for something true and beautiful. Give them this...”.

Mikhail Shishin

Chief Editor