There is an article in the NYTimes about an exhibition of photographs showing Russians doing what they do best: sitting at the table, sharing food, making heartfelt toasts washed down with abundant alcohol, and arguing about life's biggest questions. Much of Russia's turbulent history can be seen in these seemingly ordinary pictures: innocent smiles of pre-revolutionary Russian dinners, Spartan settings on Soviet tables, obscene strippers and caviar atop the table of post-Soviet biznessmyeni. It's a brilliant concept to reveal the Russian soul over the table over time. (If anybody has seen this exhibit, please add your comments.)
Here is another noteworthy--actually, it's a breathtaking--photographic exhibit that reveals Russia's colorful history long before standard color photography was invented. Sergei Mikhailovich Prokudin-Gorskii, the technologically innovative photographer to the Tsar left Russia with his glass-plate photographs to prevent the Soviet government from destroying his work and the US Library of Congress purchased these historical treasures to restore and preserve them for future generations.
Speaking of technically innovative and historically insightful, there is a new Russian movie out that was done in one single take, with thousands of actors and a single cameraman who walked for several miles with a steadycam. It's called Russian Ark and you can see the trailer here.
Posted by Xander at March 7, 2003 04:39 PM | TrackBack