The ICR response to the defamation against the Roerichs in the book by Ernst von Waldenfels «Nikolai Roerich. Kunst, Macht und Okkultismus»
On March 8, 2012 the presentation of the book by Ernst von Waldenfels «Nikolai Roerich. Kunst, Macht und Okkultismus» took place in the framework of the literary forum at the Brecht House in Berlin. Representatives of the International Centre of the Roerichs - Mr A.V. Stetsenko, First Deputy Director General of the Museum named after Nicholas Roerich, and Ms Marga Koutsarova, Chairperson of the ICR branch in Bulgaria - attended the event. Mrs Leylya Strobl, Director of the Austrian Roerich Society, Mrs G.K. Ganotskaya, Chairperson of the Roerich society in Reimstadt, and Mr Reiner Shneider, interpreter, were also present at the presentation.
They expressed their attitude to the publication in their speeches, presenting the International Centre of the Roerichs official comment.
This book that claims to be an objective «biography» of N. Roerich is in fact an ignorant attempt to misrepresent Nicholas Roerich and members of his family combined with defamation and speculations. Ernst von Waldenfels shows N. Roerich as a mediocre artist and adventurer who cooperated with the Soviet intelligence for the sake of glory, power and money. The information from the book misrepresents the facts connected with the life, oeuvre and personality of the great artist, thinker, humanist, and initiator of the Roerich Pact for the preservation of cultural property, who created more than 7000 paintings.
N. Roerich contribution both to the Russian and international culture can hardly be overestimated. The number of publications dedicated to N. Roerich's life and oeuvre is enormous. His ideas and achievements in the fields of art and science are recognised all over the world.
It is a pity that the presentation of the book took place at the eve of the Days of Russian culture «Russian Spring 2012» celebration in Germany.
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