Christmas Exhibition at St Petersburg University

This exhibition has been holding for the seventh time since 2018, bringing together all of our programmes related to fine arts. What is especially pleasing is that the authors never repeat themselves, be it the plot, techniques, materials, or forms. Absolutely all of the works are unique and easily recognisable. The education that we pass on to the new generation is evident.

Professor Ivan Uralov, Senior Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Arts at St Petersburg University

Chermen Gugkaev, Assistant Professor in the Department of Fine Arts at St Petersburg University, depicted a landscape of a Christmas street in oil on canvas. Anna Zyrianova, Associate Professor in the Department of Design at St Petersburg University, made a series of sketches of winter Pyaozero with felt-tip pens. Ivan Diakov, Assistant Professor in the Department of Fine Arts at St Petersburg University, used hot enamel technology to create a triptych on the theme of the first snow.

The unifying theme of the exhibition is Christmas, which is interpreted in each of the paintings in its own unique way.

Exhibits representing the author’s view of the main New Year symbol, i.e. the Christmas tree, have already become a traditional attribute. From year to year, decorative objects are created by first-year students under the supervision of Tamara Levandovskaia, Assistant Professor in the Department of Design at St Petersburg University. The trees are made of the most unusual materials: denim, walnuts, felt, massage balls, buttons, cotton pads and sticks, and blown glass.

The multimedia part of the exhibition was made up of Christmas short cartoons, which were prepared especially for the exhibition by students under the guidance of Iliana Makhovikova, Assistant Professor in the Department of Design at St Petersburg University.

In addition to the Christmas exhibition, three more exhibitions were prepared in December: "Graphic Design at St Petersburg University — Elagin Island," "Graphics of Design" and "Line 6."

According to Irina Tsymbal, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Arts for Youth Policy and Associate Professor in the Department of Fine Arts at St Petersburg University, artists exhibit works that reflect their feelings at the moment.

Konstantin Startsev, Associate Professor in the Department of Design at St Petersburg University, added that there is no point in painting and not exhibiting your works. An artist lives as long as his works are needed. "I am grateful to the University and my colleagues that every year they provide us, artists, with such a wonderful opportunity to show ourselves and our works," Konstantin Startsev concluded.

The Christmas Exhibition in the Twelve Collegia building will continue until 18 January 2025.

The opening of the exhibition was attended by Ekaterina Stanyukovich-Denisova, Head of the Department at the Diaghilev Museum of Modern Art at St Petersburg University. "Art education at St Petersburg University has existed for a quarter of a century, and by historical standards, it is already an established school that has its own traditions. Therefore, there is a pressing need to create an archive of the history of art pedagogy at the University and the works of the University’s educators and students, and we are ready to help them in the new, anniversary year," said Ekaterina Stanyukovich-Denisova.