International Academic Exhibition Project "JUNE 22. ON THE SIDE OF A MAN"

To the 75th anniversary of the beginning of World War II (1941-1945)

Creative Union of Russian Artists
Russian Academy of Arts
Volga branch of the Russian Academy of Arts

European Center for the Visual Arts
Aircraft Diagnostic Company

The project was implemented with the support of the Ministry of Culture of Russia

Head of the experimental creative workshop
Volga branch of the Russian Academy of Arts and TSHR: Konstantin Khudyakov.

Curator and author of the project: Vyacheslav Ereshchuk.

Project Coordinators:
Igor Bondarenko, Elena Prekopova, Svetlana Kuznetsova.

Project Director: Konstantin Akimov.

The presentation of the exhibition project will take place on June 30, 2016 in Bratislava at the European Center for Fine Arts (Slovakia).

Dates of exposure: June 30 - October 22, 2016. Next, the exhibition will be presented in different regions and cities of Russia.

Young artists working with various visual media were invited to analyze their attitude to the events of the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945), to feel them, not only relying on books and films about the war, but to get used to the situation itself, the beginning of a large-scale and terrible tragedy. The task was not to create memorial works, but to display in accessible artistic ways the images that arise in contact with this topic. The objective of the exhibition is to present images of the War, which suddenly dragged millions of people into its circulation. The focus is on Man. The artist must stand "on the side of Man."

The project was attended by young artists, graduates of the Surikov Institute, and the masters of contemporary art, whose work is structured, organizes the conceptual structure of the exposition. Thirty years after its creation, the triptych of Konstantin Khudyakov “Cherry of the forty-fifth” (from the collection of Alexander Sploshnov) will be presented. Recent works include the installation of Ivan Kolesnikov and Sergey Denisov, the work of Igor Sever on the topic of militarism.

The humanistic pathos inherent in the title of the exhibition “On the Human Side” in the works of Russian artists is an important starting point in revealing this complex topic. Not moments of history that can fall into the field of constant discussions between political scientists and historians, but the undeniable value of life and dignity of each person. I would especially like to emphasize the fact that the exhibition is attended primarily by young artists, and among those who have not previously touched on the theme of the Great Patriotic War in their work. They were supported by senior colleagues, who set the necessary tone and integrity of the exposition with their works. As a result, the exhibition turned out to be multifaceted, complex, interesting. I would like to wish creative success to its participants!

Zurab Tsereteli,
President of the Russian Academy of Arts
People’s Artist of the USSR and Russia

The last witnesses of the Great Patriotic War are leaving for another world… The time has come to interpret the war in human history. A dangerous time in all respects, in which we all endlessly and unexpectedly begin to become convinced. In near real time, from multimedia screens, billions of people watch hourly, daily countless tragedies and deaths. Living people… Ambition, greed, cynicism, lack of conscience of national, transnational elites know no boundaries and cause disgust among normal people, and among artists - the desire in plastic forms to reflect their indignation and pain.

The author of this project is a young talented artist Vyacheslav Ereshchuk, who managed to collect for its implementation, along with famous masters, young and very partial authors. The project is dedicated to the iconic date for the Russians - June 22, and is a rare example of the possible and desired relevance of art.

Konstantin Khudyakov,
vice president of the Russian Academy of Arts
Chairman of the Volga branch of the Russian Academy of Arts
President of the Creative Union of Artists of Russia

The Great Patriotic War (1941-1945) - the war between the USSR and Germany in the framework of the Second World War, ended with the victory of the Soviet Union over the Nazis and the capture of Berlin. The main significance of the Great Patriotic War was that the Soviet army, together with the allies, finally and irrevocably defeated the German army, stopped Hitler in an attempt to gain world domination. The war brought destruction, woe to many millions of people almost all over the world, but also the joy of Victory, the liberation of not only the territory of the USSR occupied by the German army, but also liberated the countries of Europe from the fascist plague. After the war, the long-awaited peace came.

The project “June 22. On the Human Side”, which was attended by young artists, graduates of the Surikov Institute, and the masters of modern art, is interesting in a variety of genres, techniques, styles and forms. Of interest is the way in which the artists in their works expressed their personal feelings in relation to events in the center of which were people during the war. In my opinion, the task set before the artists to show the images of the war, of man during the war - is completed. In the modern political situation in the world, when in some states they are trying to revive the ideology of fascism, the psychosis of hatred is being fomented, the advantages of some states and nations over others are important by all forms, methods and means, primarily political, and, of course, through fine art to fight for the rights of every person, which are based on the right to live in a world without war and armed conflict. We must always and at all times be on the side of Man!

Igor Bondarenko,
President of the European Academy of Security and Conflictology
President of the European Foundation for Slavic Writing and Culture
Honorary Academician of the Russian Academy of Arts, Professor, Doctor of Law

The events of the academic exhibition project are aimed at developing a dialogue of cultures as a form of diplomacy of the 21st century, strengthening the humanistic foundations and social functions of art, international cultural relations.