Spiritual images
An exhibition of photographs of modern Orthodox life offers a glimpse into the spiritual side of the Russian soul. By Larisa Doktorow
Special to The St. Petersburg Times
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For The St. Petersburg Times
Color photography is featured in the show.
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For anyone interested in the Putin-era resurrection of the Russian Orthodox Church, an exhibition at the Rumyantsev Mansion branch of the Museum of the History of St. Petersburg offers a visual guide to the phenomenon. The show has proved so popular that its run has been extended until the end of August. The organizers have selected 200 photographs from the archives of Foma magazine (“St. Thomas”), a major national Orthodox publication for lay people. The magazine was founded in 1996 and calls itself a “publication intended for doubters” like the biblical Doubting Thomas of its title. It supports public discussion of religious and philosophical questions. A recent issue featured authors and correspondents from different walks of life, including the Pulitzer Prize-winning American writer and journalist Serge Shmemann, Moscow filmmakers Ivan Popov and Nikita Mikhalkov, actor Yevgeny Mironov and Vladimir Yakunin, president of Russian Railways. Over the years, this Moscow-based magazine with a few regional offices (including St. Petersburg) has published a vast amount of photographic material accompanying its articles and interviews and independent series of photographic art. For this exhibition, the selection committee chose works dealing with the spiritual, monastic and church life of Russians living in the north western part of the country. These record both the daily services and special festive ceremonies. They show us worshippers of all ages. They convey the inner meaning of life in religious establishments. Many deal with the process of restoring houses of worship and the construction of new monasteries. Frequently they include beautiful landscapes of Russian provinces as a backdrop. Among the talented contributors whose photos appeared in the magazine is Yevgeny Kashirin from Ryazan. He is not only a photographer, but also a historian and a chronicler of his town. Each of his photographs is a story in itself and a series of them becomes a saga.
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For The St. Petersburg Times
Scenes from the lives of priests, monks and other holy people proliferate in the exhibition.
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Another famous photographer whose works are displayed in this show is Andrei Chizov from St. Petersburg. He has created his own artistic space and has a deep philosophical dimension, playing with space and time, using montages, superimposition and special papers to achieve his effects. At the exhibition he presents the series “Putting on Robes” showing a village priest getting ready for a service. The pictures illustrate provincial Russia, with its small towns and villages, and depict daily life such as the installation of a new church bell, baptism in a brook or baking bread at a monastery. One of the photographers, who participates in an annual cross-carrying procession in a Moscow region town, records the event with his camera each year. Physically, such religious events can be difficult. Processions can last a long time and can take place in inaccessible places, such as newly constructed monasteries or old and restored ones like that on Valaam Island: beautiful photos by Ludmila Chezina of worshippers there form part of the exhibition. Deep spiritual involvement can also change a photographer’s life — photographer Igor Palkin started out working for Moscow-based newspaper St. Tatiana’s Day but gradually became so involved in religious life that he was eventually ordained as a priest. The photographs in the display vary from small to big and very big: as much as two square meters, in the case of “Biblical Scenes” by Vladimir Klavicho-Telepnev. The organizers are looking forward to presenting further exhibitions and have announced a competition for contributors to a show entitled “Territory of Joy II,” which is planned for October/November in St. Petersburg, after which it will travel around the Russian regions and abroad. “Territory of Joy,” Rumyantsev Mansion, 44 Angliiskaya Naberezhnaya through August. Entrance from 45 Galernaya Ulitsa.“Territory of Joy,” Rumyantsev Mansion, 44 Angliiskaya Naberezhnaya through August. Entrance from 45 Galernaya Ulitsa.
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