ABOUT THE EXHIBITION AT THE RUSSIAN STATE LIBRARY

The Russian State Library and Erzia International Arts Foundation are glad to present, for the first in the Russian Federation, an exhibition from a long-term project “THE RUSSIA’S SCULPTOR ERZIA AND ALL THE WORLD” that is dedicated to the 135-th anniversary of the great Russian artist Stepan Dmitrievich Nefedov-Erzia (1876–1959), as well as to The Year of Italy in Russia and The Year of Russia in Italy.  

It will be the first exposition composed of exclusive original copies of Erzia’s masterpieces from both private and museum collections located not only in Moscow but also far from Russia’s borders. As for the originals themselves, they have rarely been seen by public or even by professionals, as part of them are in poor condition. Thanks to the assistance provided by the Foundation’s experts, there is a real chance now to have a look at some of then unknown Erzia’s works from foreign collections.

The exposition presents photos and documents from the Foundation’s archives that since 2006 have been collecting by the Foundation’s employees in the course of their exploration endeavours in various cities and countries all over the world. Many of the exhibits are kindly provided by the Foundation’s close associates from Argentina, Uruguay, Chile and Italy, as well as from Russia. Some part of the Foundation’s photo-archives has been already represented in new editions dedicated to Erzia as a sculptor.

New editions of the Foundation, that are dedicated to the artist’s oeuvre, also participate in the project. Both professionals and amateurs will be heartily interested to have a look at albums and publications issued in various years. Readers of diverse categories will be able to find what they are interested in, among the books presented at the exhibition, inter alia, the fist edition about the artist and S.Erzia’s private archives that are made public for the first time. The first Spanish-language edition of a story about the sculptor, that was issued to commemorate 200 years of independence for Latin America countries (2010-2011), will be in the limelight. Today, a new book in Italian has been prepared for edition, and Italian admirers of Erzia’s oeuvre will  be able to enjoy it in November-December of this year.

The project program includes documentary and slide films about Erzia’s life and oeuvre as well as about the Foundation’s

international projects. At www.erzia-fond.com one can find on-line information on activities and new discoveries made by the Foundation’s staff in passionate searching for and examination of then unknown works by Erzia, located in Russia and abroad. The site is available in English, Italian, Russian and Spanish.

It’s for the first time that, thanks to the prepared exposition, public will be aware of the Foundation’s activities for the period since 2007. Many of the Foundation’s projects are in the process of realization in Europe and America. The Foundation dares to expect that the work accomplished by its staff in dedication of Erzia’s oeuvre, will be worthily appraised by visitors and new people will join the Foundation’s activities in the endeavor to give a touch to a creative fate of the greatest sculptor of the twentieth century.  

The exhibition will be opened on Febrary, 2012.