Exhibition “Uniting Heaven and Earth” Opens in the Non-governmental Museum Named after Nicholas Roerich
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This year the programme of the social-scientific conference “Russia and the Roerichs’ Heritage” of the International Centre of the Roerichs started on October 8 with the opening of the exhibition “Uniting Heaven and Earth.” It features the paintings by Nicholas and Svetoslav Roerich as well as the drawings by Helena Roerich from the collection of the Museum Named after Nicholas Roerich.
Naturally it is the drawings by Helena Roerich that attract special attention, since their story is quite intriguing, has been till recently practically unknown to wide public. The exhibition displays altogether thirty drawings. It is mostly portraits, landscapes and calligraphy sheets executed in different styles.
The Deputy Director General of the Museum Named after Nicholas Roerich Mrs. N. Cherkashina said that these works were discovered by Lyudmila Shaposhnikova in late 1980s in Bangalore while preparing the property of this glorious family for transportation to Russia. Mrs. Shaposhnikova discovered a paper roll bound by a cord, put it aside and ignored it for a while. However, a strange feeling kept her restless. Having finally unrolled the paper, she found pencil drawings. During the conversation that evening Svetoslav Roerich explained that those were “mother’s drawings.” That is how their authorship was ascertained. Subsequently they found their proper place in the collection of the Non-governmental Museum Named after Nicholas Roerich.
According to the experts who took part in the conference, it is clear from the drawings that the artist first increased her vital energy levels and then transferred the resulting images on paper. It is well known that the entire creative work of the Roerichs reflects the process of their comprehension of the world.
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It is noteworthy, and it was highlighted by the speakers, that the exhibition opened on the day of commemoration of St. Sergius of Radonezh, whose personality left a deep mark in the creative oeuvre of the Roerichs and in the spiritual history of Russia.
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After the guests of the museum and the participants of the conference have seen the exhibition, they were invited to the Svetoslav Roerich Hall where they were addressed by the First Vice-President of the International Centre of the Roerichs, Director-General of the Museum Named after Nicholas Roerich, the Honored Art Worker of Russia, Member of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences and the Russian Academy of Cosmonautics Named after Konstantin Tsiolkovsky Mrs. Lyudmila Shaposhnikova. She then opened one more exhibition, this time a charitable one, titled “The Hidden,” which featured the jewelry pieces created by the artist Galina Sokolovskaya. Having recalled what a great help was extended to her by her relatives and friends, including the Bulochnik family, the artist, who was present at the opening ceremony, wished all the guests well-being and said that one experiences happiness in the moments of contemplation of the beauty of the world and that she attempted to capture those moments in her art.
The revenue coming from the sale of these exclusive pieces of jewelry will be donated to the Non-governmental Museum Named after Nicholas Roerich Assistance Fund.
The evening closed with the literary-musical composition “Holy Russia” presented by the band “Lada” of the Podolsk Cultural-Educational Centre Named after Nicholas Roerich.
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