The Russian Museum has opened a major exhibition titled “Our Avant-Garde” in the Benois Wing, showcasing over 400 works, aiming to redefine and re-contextualize the Russian avant-garde movement. The exhibition seeks to present the avant-garde as a classical art form, moving away from hype and ritualistic interpretations.

Curator Yuri Avvakumov emphasized the intent to display the avant-garde as “calm, classical art,” allowing the museum’s collection to speak for itself. The exhibition features works from the museum’s collection alongside pieces from other local sources, providing a comprehensive overview of the movement.

The exhibition is structured architecturally, with intimate halls dedicated to graphics and porcelain nestled within larger halls featuring painting and sculpture. The exhibition begins with a portrait of art historian Nikolai Punin by Kazimir Malevich, paying homage to Punin’s 1927 exhibition of new artistic trends.

The exhibition proceeds chronologically and thematically, exploring various movements within the avant-garde, including Impressionism, Primitivism, Cubo-Futurism, and Non-Objectivity. The “Union of Youth” hall highlights the early avant-garde, while the Primitivism section features works by Natalia Goncharova and Niko Pirosmani.

A key hall showcases portraits and self-portraits of prominent figures from the era, including Anna Akhmatova, Vsevolod Meyerhold, and Aristarkh Lentulov. Later sections delve into abstraction, non-objectivity, and expressionism, culminating in a visually striking hall dedicated to Pavel Filonov and Malevich’s post-Suprematist works.

The exhibition features iconic pieces expected by museum visitors, alongside lesser-known works, creating a balance between familiarity and discovery. The museum hopes that “Our Avant-Garde” will encourage viewers to engage with the art, and to form their own connection with the avant-garde movement.