(December 9—14, 2008, Sokolniki Exhibition and Convention Centre, Moscow)
December 9, when the Mystery of the World Calligraphy exposition was solemnly opened. The first words to come when trying to describe the event are those of “elegance”, “grace”, “style”…
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| Opening ceremony |
At the beginning Denis Shapovalov – Mstislav Rostropovich’s student – played Bach on cello.
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| Denis Shapovalov playing |
Andrey Busyghin, Deputy Minister of Culture, addressed to the audience with a welcome speech. He also read off a telegram from Minister of Culture RF Alexander Avdeev.
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| Andrei Busygin, Deputy Minister of Culture RF |
The ceremony was attended by many famous calligraphers. Yevgeny Dobrovinsky, Petr Chobitko, Yuri Koverdyayev, Nazip Ismagilov… Andrea and Volker Thomas Wunderlich came purposely from Germany. The Israeli calligraphy was represented by Avraham Borshevsky. Manohar Desai showed off for India.
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| Manohar Desai, Indian calligrapher |
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| Calligrapher artist, Hebrew sacral texts expert, Avraham Borshevsky |
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| Andrea and Volker Thomas Wunderlich have ornamented one of the museum’s walls |
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| Chen Wenfu (China) |
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Yuri Koverdyayev (Russia) |
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Nazip Ismagilov (Russia) |
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Georgy Kozubov (Russia) |
Among the guests of honor were diplomats from Israel, Jordan, Iran, Mongolia, Palestine, Peru, Japan.
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| Miniature copy of Israeli Declaration of Independence gifted by the Israeli Cultural Centre |
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Akira Imamura,
Minister of Japanese Embassy in Russia |
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Hasan Al-Dabbas,
Counsellor of Jordanian Embassy in Russia |
The exhibition has featured the works of more than 70 well-known calligraphers representing different traditions and schools from Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Europe, Baltic States, USA, Israel, China, Japan, Syria, Mongolia, Turkey, Australia, India, Taiwan, Palestine, Jordan, Brazil, Peru, Armenia and Iran.
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| Calligraphy from around the world has filled the museum |
Also the exposition has displayed historic specimen of manuscripts of different ages, rare handwritten books, a collection of miniature books, utensils for writing and lettering, books about calligraphy published in different countries. The applied calligraphy was represented by embroidery and calligraphic engravings.
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| Applied calligraphy |
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Miniature books collection |
The hallmark of that exhibition, and in general of all the projects within the International exhibition of calligraphy, was a saturated program full of lectures, demonstrations and master-classes of the foremost calligraphers. What was also essential is that the whole program was interesting not only to professionals, but to the children as well.
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| Yevgeny Dobrovinsky swept the children along into an exciting trip |
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| Master-classes of Petr Chobitko |
The exhibition framework has featured a unique event – it introduced the first handwritten Constitution of the Russian Federation. On special display were 35 miniature Constitutions (USSR, Russian Federation, USA, CSI, Asia and Europe). Additionally there were presented the text of oath and speech at the inauguration ceremony of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.
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| Handwritten oath of Dmitry Medvedev |
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First handwritten Constitution of the Russian Federation |
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Collection of miniature constitutions |
A milestone in the grand project International exhibition of calligraphy was erected on December 14, 2008. It is sad a bit to come into thinned out halls overcrowded just yesterday, where there played the music and sounds of children’s astonished exclamations were wafted all around the hall… But project organizers have already said their future plans including new exhibitions, festivals and many other things.
The project team
See you!
