Opening of the exposition "Heritage for the Future" was held at the National Centre RUSSIA

On November 4, as part of the International Symposium "Inventing the Future" at the National Centre RUSSIA, the exposition "Heritage for the Future" opened its doors. It showcases over 250 artworks in various techniques — from painting to video art — created by talented young artists from six countries: Russia, China, India, Brazil, Ethiopia, and Iran.

"Today, we have a grand event. We have opened the National Centre RUSSIA, within which the exposition 'Heritage for the Future' has begun. On behalf of the Directorate, I would like to thank our entire team," said Olesya Malevannaya, Head of the Cultural and Educational Projects Laboratory at the National Centre RUSSIA.

The exposition project emphasizes that the future will remain in the hands of a Human if we continue to dream and find a constructive approach in dialogue. The curator of the exposition is Semyon Mikhailovsky, Rector of the Ilya Repin St. Petersburg State Academy of Fine Arts.

"We carefully reviewed numerous works and selected those truly worthy of being presented at the National Centre RUSSIA. We are very inspired and genuinely appreciate these works. We support these young artists, who are immensely talented and possess all the resources and skills, and we wish them success in life and creativity. We are also very grateful to all the organizations that participated in this exposition," noted Semyon Mikhailovsky.

The young creators whose works are featured in the exposition value traditions, reflect on the present, express contemporary attitudes toward past events, and contemplate the future, raising relevant issues in their works, illustrating challenges, and narrating phenomena that are likely to enter our lives in the coming decades. Among the key themes the paintings invite to reflect on are cultural dialogue, family traditions and spiritual values, loneliness among people, addictions, sociocultural issues, and the role of medical professionals and other representatives in saving humanity.

The central piece of the exposition is a scaled-down copy of the sculpture of the sleeping infant "Son of the Earth," located in the Gobi Desert. Its author, Dong Shubing, is one of the most prominent figures in contemporary Chinese art. This famous work provokes thoughts about the interaction between nature and humanity and the importance of a respectful attitude toward the environment. At the same time, within the space of the exposition, Shubing's brilliant creation begins to take on new meanings — in a way, it serves as a unique way to convey to the younger generation the idea that art has the power to transform the future for the better.

"This sculpture unites the space of the exposition. We placed small benches around the infant, allowing people to sit there and find peace beside it. Overall, I would like this exposition and the entire National Centre RUSSIA to be lively and public, becoming a place for meetings and exchange of opinions for a vast number of people," stated Semyon Mikhailovsky.

Among the honored guests at the opening of the exposition was Ma Sai, Rector of the Academy of Arts and Design at Tsinghua University in China.

"Russia and China are not only neighboring countries but also strategic partners. The relationship between our countries encompasses many aspects, and art, I believe, is one proof of how deep and friendly these relations are. It is very significant that we are holding this joint exposition in the year marking the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and the year of cultural exchanges between Russia and China. Youth embodies our hopes for the future, and I hope this exposition will open a new chapter in communications between our countries," remarked Ma Sai.

The exposition will be available for the Symposium guests from November 4 to 6, and will open its doors to the public on November 7.

The International Symposium "Inventing the Future" is being held from November 4 to 6. Participants include scientists, researchers, futurists, science fiction writers, and representatives from government bodies from 101 countries, including Russia, India, Italy, Iran, China, the UAE, Serbia, the USA, and France. The program features over 60 sessions across four tracks: "Future of Human," "Future of Technology," "Future of Multipolar World," and "Future of Civilizations." The program and event broadcasts are available at the website future.russia.ru.

The International Symposium "Inventing the Future" is the first event of the National Centre RUSSIA, which was established on July 1, 2024, by the order of President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin. The Centre aims to preserve the legacy of the International RUSSIA EXPO and showcase the achievements of the country and its citizens. The work of the Centre involves federal authorities, state companies, corporations, and regions.