Russian Song Theater opens Nadezhda Babkina’s Puppet Museum

The grand opening of the Puppet Museum will take place on September 1 in the building of the Small Stage of the Russian Song Theater on Sadovaya-Chernogryazskaya Street. On this day, a unique collection of more than 100 dolls will be presented, which the artistic director of the theater Nadezhda Babkina collected over 40 years of her creative work. Exhibits brought from various parts of Russia and other countries.

Photo courtesy of the press service of the Russian Song Theater

People’s Artist of Russia, founder of the Russian Song ensemble and artistic director of the folklore theater of the same name, folk song researcher, professor, doctor of art history, Nadezhda Georgievna, for many years, collected dolls around the world - brought from tours and folklore expeditions.

The collection of the Museum of Dolls by Nadezhda Babkina contains more than 100 dolls. Each has its own character, destiny and unique appearance. Museum visitors will see dolls that represent Russian national color.

“Dolls in folk costumes are especially attractive,” says Nadezhda Babkina. - Acquaintance with such exhibits will provide an idea of the elements of national clothing that are characteristic of different regions of Russia. They are not only beautiful, but also informative. ”

The theater museum will present dolls-beregini, which are designed to protect against bad energy and the evil eye. Their integral element is a broom and small baby dolls. Many other details are symbols that help doll owners bring wealth and prosperity to their home.

The museum will also feature theater puppets - a repetition of theatrical characters in miniature. It seems that they have just taken their place from the theater stage in museum windows and froze in anticipation of the next performance.

Particularly valuable exhibits of the Museum are dolls from birch bark. They were made by professional Siberian artist Viktor Khakhalin. His dolls came to Moscow from Kuzbass.

According to Nadezhda Babkina, the Puppet Museum is an interactive exhibition project that combines culture, traditions and spectacular art.

“In a special fairytale atmosphere, children and adults can take part in tea gatherings, listen to amazing fairy tales performed by famous artists, and under the guidance of craftsmen make do-it-yourself dolls that will keep the warmth and comfort of the family hearth,” says the theater’s artistic director.

The central exhibit of the collection is the Nadenka doll, which can perform songs from the repertoire of Nadezhda Babkina. The unique development belongs to Russian inventors Alexander and Lyudmila Saprykin, who for over 30 years have been designing and creating hardware and software systems in the city of Sergiev-Posad.

Doll Nadenka is the embodiment of the creative search for a toy-turner, professional artists, inventors. The name of the doll is given in honor of Nadezhda Babkina, who came up with the idea to make an author’s doll, as a symbol of Russian folk song.

The dress for the doll was sewn by famous masters from the city of Mytishchi near Moscow, who for many years developed the craft of making Russian traditional dolls. In the image of Nadia there is the art of masters and a huge love of Russian folk culture.

“This doll combines modern technology and centuries-old traditions,” says Nadezhda Babkina. “I strongly welcome and use this combination in my work, in my profession.”

The production of this doll cannot be put on stream, since its manufacture is individual in nature, which contributes to the preservation of the author’s style and ensures high quality. The doll is made by craftsmen from the Bylin folk craft - they skillfully paint the beauty girl with watercolor and gouache paints. One of these craftswomen is Tatyana Popova. For more than 25 years, she has been manufacturing Russian traditional dolls, the creation technology of which has been transmitted from generation to generation in her family.

By combining the skills of woodcarvers, the talent of artists, the voice of Nadezhda Babkina and innovative sound technologies, a new way has been found in the development of the art of making Russian traditional dolls.

The collection of dolls by Nadezhda Babkina was first presented at the XVIII Moscow International Exhibition “Doll Art”, which was held in Gostiny Dvor in December 2017.