International Exhibition of Calligraphy

Since 2008 the Sokolniki Exhibition and Convention Centre has been running the world’s largest project about lettering art – the International exhibition of calligraphy. Its every stage has been a significant milestone in the cultural life of Russia and the interest for the event exceeds the boldest expectations of the organizers. The exhibition was started on September 16, 2008 in St. Petersburg where the I International exhibition of calligraphy was successfully organized in the Russian Academy of Fine Arts. The show drew about 70 foremost calligraphers from 26 countries.

I International Exhibition of Calligraphy took place in a truly wonderful place

Calligraphy and music have a lot in common

he opening ceremony was far from being “official”. The music and calligraphy reigned that night

Some workshops

Then, the II International exhibition of calligraphy was organized from October 14 till November 14, 2009 in Moscow. The show was run under the aegis of the Commission of the Russian Federation for UNESCO and support of the Ministry for Cultural Affairs of the Russian Federation. The three exhibition pavilions totaling over 5,000 sq.m. demonstrated over 500 calligraphy artworks created by 101 calligraphers from 34 countries. The exhibition context included an open contest on Orthodox Calligraphy and 72 master classes with the illustrious calligraphers from a quantity of countries participating. The meticulous attention of the public was attracted to the artworks of the sacral Calligraphy collection. The project was welcomed and blessed by the leaders of the three main religious confessions of Russia: Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill, Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar, Chairman of the Council of Muftis Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gainutdin, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II, Apostolic Nuncio Antonio Mennini, President of the Russian Association of Buddhists, the Karma Kagyu school Alexander Koibagarov.

 

In 2009 the exhibition was approved by UFI (Global Association of the Exhibition Industry) for high professional level of exhibitions organization, and then in 2010 the project entered the final three of exhibitions World Cup according to Exhibition News Awards (London).

A most refined artmosphere tuning the visitors into the right perception of the sophisticated art of calligraphy was created inside the pavilion

Grand opening

Masters from around the world share their creative secrets

The III International exhibition of calligraphy was held in Velikiy Novgorod, September 10 – 12, 2010. It is the old Orthodox centre of Rus, the treasurer of centuries-long writing traditions. The centerpiece of the exposition was formed by the exhibits from the Sacral Calligraphy collection, that demonstrated the national and cultural diversity and spiritual unity of the contemporary civilization. For three days the exhibition at Yaroslav's Court near the Kremlin was attended by over 37,000 people. The exhibition featured works from 43 countries, and 46 workshops of famous calligraphers were successfully run. First everthe audience could attend a lesson of calligraphy on porcelain. The exhibition was supported by the Novgorod area Governor Sergey Mitin, Mayor of Velikiy Novgorod Yury Bobryshev, Archbishop of Novgorod and Staraya Russa Lev.

Novgorod Kremlin “Citadel” – the heart of Velikiy Novgorod. The main exhibition fairground was placed against the Kremlin

Pavilions grouped splendidly in the landscape

Not only the “wrap” was beautiful. Interior decoration boggled the imagination

The most attractive through the exhibition program were the master-classes

The IV International Exhibition of Calligraphy was held in the Contemporary museum of calligraphy, Moscow, November 1st — December 15th, 2012. This exhibition featured a six-time thematic recharge, allowing not only to display a lot of new works, contributing to museum's exposition, but also previously showcased chefs d'oeuvre, like the famous I Ching Signs by Valeryan Bakharev, comprising 64 hexagrams. The programme featured master-classes and lectures, both adults and children being its target audience. The art of calligraphy is closely connected to music, therefore melodious performances were a pleasant surprise for the guests. The most exotic musical instrument, creating a unique atmosphere for Yekaterina Nazarova's workshop, was Shakuhachi, Japanese flute.

The exposition has been enriched by a hundred new works of art

The exhibition is also remembered by a large number of exciting lectures and workshops

Plans for the future: organize presentations and exhibitions in major world capitals. So, from November, 7 to December, 17 of 2014 the regular International exhibition of calligraphy to be held in Moscow in Sokolniki Exhibition and Convention Centre, where it will be held biannually. Then the project is scheduled to be presented in various biggest cities of the world.