Mikhail Piotrovsky presented his new book in Saint Petersburg

On February 7, 2019, Mikhail Piotrovsky, a maitre of the Russian museology, Doctor of Historical Sciences and Director of the State Hermitage, presented his new book “From the Scythians to Kiefer. 50 Exhibitions in 25 Years” in Saint Petersburg Book Centre.

Director of the Contemporary Museum of Calligraphy and the National Union of Calligraphers Alexey Shaburov and his assistant Ludmila Kulanina attended the event. Mr. Piotrovsky presented the book and lifted the veil on what could be expected of the Hermitage in the future. The book includes 50 introduction articles to the catalogues of museum exhibitions held between 1993 and 2017. The pages have preserved the memories of antique grotesque and sculptures by Antony Gormley, Iranian weapons and installation by the Chapman brothers, Zaha Hadid’s Buddhist frescoes and architectural projects, or Anselm Kiefer’s archaeological discoveries and works. The book, rich in illustrations, offers to recall or see for the first time the masterpieces of classical and contemporary art that were exhibited in the museum over the last 25 years.

During the Q&A session in the second half of the meeting, Piotrovsky was asked about his attitude to private museums as a segment of the cultural assets. His response was brief and concise: “A museum is a museum,” he said. “What’s important is that it has its own direction. Potentially private museums drive the development in general as well as the interaction between private and public facilities.”

At the meeting Mikhail Piotrovsky was also invited to cooperate and attend the exhibition of private museums of Russia, scheduled for September in Sokolniki Exhibition and Convention Centre in Moscow, which he accepted. As he was told the idea and the details of a project to put together a catalogue of private museums of Russia (currently it includes over 400 museums across the country), he appreciated the work done to date and emphasized the importance of the project these days.

The presentation rounded up with an autograph signing session, where the adored author signed the copies of his books for everyone.

We are happy to remind that on September 7-8, 2019, Sokolniki Exhibition and Convention Centre will hold a large scale exhibition named Private Museums of Russia that will see over 180 private museums from all across Russia, diverse in topics and style (history, culture, art, and much more).

Mikhail Piotrovsky, Director of the State Hermitage, President of the Union of Museums of Russia, Presidium Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Alexey Shaburov, Director of the Contemporary Museum of Calligraphy and the Association of Private Museums of Russia Mikhail Piotrovsky signs his portrait painted by one of his followers Mikhail Piotrovsky, Director of the State Hermitage, President of the Union of Museums of Russia, Presidium Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and Alexey Shaburov, Director of the Contemporary Museum of Calligraphy and the Association of Private Museums of Russia