‘Master Repin. Teacher and Students’ is an jubilee exhibition dedicated to Ilya Repin, one of the Russian painting school founders.
The project offers visitors an opportunity to learn more about the artist and his students, as well as explore their relationships and influence on one another.
First hall was designed as Repin’s studio: each detail, from lamps to carpets, was selected from archived photo of the original interior. Second hall named after one of Repin’s key principles ‘Learn from nature’ reveals theme of harmony between the artist and nature. Green lightbox in the center of the hall creates an open-air feeling. Third hall ‘Follow your own way’ raises up the theme of deep personal relationship between Ilya Repin and his students. The architecture with its intersections and active geometry presents weaves of ideas, approaches and visions of the master and his famous students. Such as Valentin Serov, Boris Kustodiev, Philip Malyavin, Isaac Brodsky, Zinaida Serebryakova, Igor Grabar and others.
This space reminds the visitors that not only does the teacher influence the student’s worldview, but also the student influences the teacher, developing their creative potential.
A parallel story is told by ‘Episodes’ — scenes from the life of the Master and his students. Together with archival photographs and scenic solutions, ‘Episodes’ turn the painting exhibition into an atmospheric and multifaceted story of creative search and growing up.