An Embroidered Map of Russia will become the foundation of one of the main art objects of the International RUSSIA EXPO

An installation based on the Embroidered Map of Russia will greet the guests of the International RUSSIA EXPO at the VDNH.

On October 5 in Moscow an agreement was signed between the ANO «Directorate of the Exhibition of Achievements "Russia"» and representatives of the Republic of Chuvashia on the use of the Embroidered Map of Russia as one of the symbols of the exposition.

The document was signed by Natalia Virtuozova, Director General of the ANO «Directorate of the Exhibition of Achievements "Russia"», and Irina Menshikova, Director of the Chuvash National Museum of the Ministry of Culture of Chuvashia. Svetlana Kalikova, Minister of Culture of Chuvashia, was also present at the signing ceremony.

Natalia Virtuozova said that the installation "Living Map" will consist of kinetic elements, where all 89 subjects of Russia will be located.

"Just as the RUSSIA EXPO shows all the richness of the regions through expositions, the Embroidered Map reflects the cultural diversity through patterns. That is why we decided to present it as an art object that will greet our guests right in front of the entrance to the VDNH", — said Natalia Virtuozova.

The first Embroidered Map of the Chuvash ASSR was presented at the All-Union Agricultural Exposition in 1939. The map was embroidered for a year by the masters of the Algeshevsk factory "Paha Tere". Now it is kept in the Museum of Chuvash embroidery.

In 2021, inspired by the map of 1939, folk artisans embroidered a map of Chuvashia. And in 2022, with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation and the Federal Agency for Ethnic Affairs (FADN of Russia), the map of the whole Russia was embroidered by hand. New regions of the country — Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions — have also joined the project.

Svetlana Kalikova noted that the Embroidered Map of Russia was born with the help of masters from all over the country. Now it is part of the museum fund of the Russian Federation and is kept in the Chuvash National Museum.

"Since its birth, the map has gathered a lot of rave reviews. Nadezhda Babkina called it the amulet of the whole country, and Nikita Mikhalkov called it God’s Providence. We are honored that Chuvashia’s creation has received such high praise, is recognized as a symbol of unity and cultural diversity of our country and will become a hallmark of such a large-scale project as the International RUSSIA EXPO", — Svetlana Kalikova noted.

The International RUSSIA EXPO will be opened on November 4, 2023 at the VDNH in Moscow and will last until April 12, 2024. It will feature both federal ministries and corporations, as well as all 89 subjects of the Russian Federation. The expositions will tell about the uniqueness, achievements and opportunities of each region of Russia. During the days of regions each subject of the Russian Federation will present its achievements in various spheres, demonstrate performances of creative teams and its gastronomic peculiarities.

Chuvashia will present its cultural, tourist, investment and industrial potential at the exposition — everything that the republic has achieved over the last 20 years as a part of one big Russian family. The Day of Chuvashia at the exposition will be held on December 1, 2023. The guests will enjoy a large Forum of fellow countrymen, a festival of gastronomic traditions with display and tasting of Chuvash products, a national Chuvash wedding, a movie day with film screenings and presentation of the project "Chuvashia Cinematographic".