Vitebsk is preparing to celebrate the 130th anniversary of Marc Chagall with performances and exhibitions on July 7, BELTA was informed by the Marc Chagall Museum.
Vitebsk is preparing to celebrate the 130th anniversary of Marc Chagall with performances and exhibitions on July 7, BELTA was informed by the Marc Chagall Museum.
The anniversary celebrations began in January. First, an exhibition dedicated to the German artist Hermann Struck, under whom Chagall studied engraving in 1922, opened. This was followed by the presentation of the IV Chagall Collection. On the eve of the May holidays, the Art Centre launched the exhibition "130 Years - 130 Masterpieces. A Retrospective of Marc Chagall's Work from the Museum's Collection". On June 8, the presentation of Viktor Borisenkov's art project took place, which, using a combination of photographs taken a century apart, showed how Chagall's places have changed. Recently, Pokrovskaya Street, where the Marc Chagall House-Museum is located, was also transformed. Poetic and prose quotes by the artist appeared on fences and facades, which, on the one hand, serve as art objects, and on the other hand, make one look at Vitebsk in a new way in an attempt to understand the origins of the artist's incredible love and longing for his homeland. The presentation of a mural with a poetic dedication to Chagall, "To My Vitebsk," will be part of the events this Friday.
The celebrations will begin with a screening of the documentary "Marc Chagall. Unreal Reality" (Belarusfilm, 2012) at the House of Cinema at 13:00. Afterwards, an exhibition of photo documents from the collections of the regional museum of local lore will open at the Art Museum. The Yakub Kolas National Academic Drama Theatre will present the play "Chagall. Chagall..." – a well-known production by Vitaly Barkovsky, which has received several prestigious awards at international festivals.
By 16:00, the celebrations will move to Pokrovskaya Street, where, after laying flowers at the monument to Chagall, a theatrical procession will take place. "The entire street will come alive: there will be musicians, artists, dancers, and acrobats. Marc and Bella will ride in a carriage to the house-museum itself, in the courtyard of which a festive fair will begin. The 'Shalom' ensemble from Lida will give a concert of klezmer (street Jewish) music. And a little later, on the same stage, the play 'Chagall. Exodus' by the Belarusian Theatre 'Lyalka' will be shown for the first time in the open air," said Irina Voronova, director of the Marc Chagall Museum in Vitebsk.
Another unusual event is being prepared on the territory of the cultural and historical complex "Golden Ring of Vitebsk "Dvina". Guests arriving at 19:00 will be treated to the art performance "Cornflower Sky": an atmosphere of the early 20th century, Chagall's paintings brought to life - from violinists on the roof to lovers over the city; a fire extinguishing performance is even promised.