"Educational Workshops of the Repin Institute"

LenExpo

Saint-Petersburg, Russia

November 2007

  I.E. Repin Institute of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture at the Russian Academy of Art – is an oldest Professional Art Educational Institution in Russia. The history of the Institute is tightly related to the history of the Academy of Art, which celebrated its 250^th anniversary in the year 2007. Being reorganized in XX century from educational workshops of the Emperor’s Academy of Arts, the Repin Institute maintains the traditions of academic art education. These days, the Institute is one of world leading centres for classical training of artists. 

  This exhibition will acquaint the viewer with artworks by students of the Painting Department of I.E. Repin Institute. Here, one will find study works, performed both in  the Institute’s studios and in outdoor workshops. Beside, self-motivated (independent) creative artworks by students are exposed here. These works frequently are precursors  of young artists’ first large-scale paintings and of their diploma works.

  Viewer will see young faces, youngsters’ view of themselves, of the world surrounding them, of national cultural traditions.

Creativity of young generation is featured by responsiveness and openness towards the world. During  years of apprenticeship not only artist’s professionalism is being moulded, but the impressions accumulates, which will define further creative life of the artist.

Organizers of the exhibition are convinced and persuade the viewers that artist’s training is a constant and routine job, demanding resolving of complex technical tasks. Only commitment to painting and creativeness of young artists help them to succeed.

  Graduates of the Institute deserve special attention. To start one’s own creative path is never easy. It became more obvious in our days, when classic painting is pushed out by the variety of new art practices. Modern society does not always welcome and, unfortunately, quite often is not prepared to accept classical visual arts. Ignorance often defences itself by denial, hampering therefore artist’s development.

  While young artists are making their first steps in art, the society is responsible to protect them from indifference and apathy.