How fashion and culture develop regions: an open discussion was held at the National Centre RUSSIA
An open
discussion titled "How Fashion Brands and Cultural Initiatives Transform
Regional Life" took place on April 8 at the National Centre RUSSIA. It was
held as part of the expert programme on architecture and urbanism "Looking
into the Future" and was organized in collaboration with the digital
publication PEOPLETALK.
Participants
of the meeting discussed why it is important to develop local projects and what
concrete steps are being taken to make regions more attractive. The moderator
was Ksenia Anosova, the editor-in-chief of PEOPLETALK.
"In
recent years, the Russian cultural code has undoubtedly been on the rise. New
brands are emerging that produce goods representing traditional Russian crafts.
We see how models walk the runway at Fashion Week wearing kokoshniks, thus
emphasizing Russian fashion and traditions. This is a very pleasant
trend," noted Ksenia Anosova.
The owner
of ASKERI GALLERY and popularizer of contemporary art, Polina Askeri, shared
her experience in creating an art residency for artists in Zaraysk, Moscow
region. According to her, many artists are actively working with the cultural
code of Russia lately.
"I
have been curating the Contemporary Art Festival in Zaraysk for several years.
It's a wonderful little town in the Moscow region. We brought a large number of
Russian artists to Zaraysk. In the second year of the festival, the city
administration allocated a second large building for us. We filled this space
with meaning," said Polina Askeri.
The
festival hosted world-renowned Russian artists Masha Rudenko and Max
Goshko-Dankov. Over the course of two months, 15,000 people visited it. People
not only explored the exposition but also discovered Zaraysk itself.
"Together
with the collectors of my gallery, we began restoring the local church. We are
currently in the final stage. In addition, people are coming and opening hotels
and cafes, thus developing the infrastructure necessary for increasing the
tourist flow to the city. You can come there for a weekend with your family and
have a great time. I found a place of strength for myself there," shared
Polina Askeri.
Designer of
the conceptual brand Gapanovich from the Far North, Alexandra Gapanovich,
shared how in her work she rethinks the uniqueness of Russia, transmitting
national identity through the local code of the northern regions, particularly
the Murmansk region. Founder of the Keep Looking Group, Ksenia Shipilova,
presented the "Threads" project — a nationwide fashion industry
competition aimed at developing the design environment in the Ivanovo region.
Designers from all over the country gather for the competition.
Artistic
Director of the art park "Nikola-Lenivets" and the
"Archstoyanie" festival, Nikolai Polissky, talked about how a small
village in the Kaluga region became the largest art park in Europe. According
to Nikolai Polissky, he is interested in sharing his experience with other
regions of Russia, so that vibrant artistic projects can develop there as well.
At the
conclusion of the discussion, Ksenia Anosova emphasized that personal interest
and motivation are crucial: one person can influence the development of an
entire city or even a region.
Event photobank
The National Centre RUSSIA will host a series of presentations titled "Journey Across Russia's Gastronomic Festivals."
The National Centre RUSSIA today meets the needs of various professional communities for communication and exchange of experience.
During the tour of the expansive exposition, the Chairman of the Government highlighted the significance of the display.