Nicholas Roerich: Looking for Shambala

  • November 12 – February 8, Fri-Mon 10 am - 6 pm, Thu 1 pm - 9 pm​
  • The Russian Museum
  • 250 rubles for students (regular rate – 500 rubles) 

Referred to as “one of the most mysterious Russian artists,” Nicholas Roerich has a very distinctive, fairytale-like and yet strangely realistic style, simultaneously filled with bright colors and deep philosophical meaning. This exhibition will reflect on Roerich’s quest for the source of knowledge, the merging of East and West, and the legend of the coming Messiah. Among the works presented will be the grand Tibetan landscapes and the masterpieces created by Roerich during his time in India in the 1930-1940s – and who would mind a brilliant speck of color during these worrying and steadily grayer days of St. Petersburg autumn? Don’t forget that you will have to buy tickets online before your visit. 

Joseph Brodsky. Save My Shadow 

We all know that Brodsky is the poet to read during a pandemic with his don’t leave the room lines – and now there is an opportunity to learn more about this prophet of our time in a safe way by visiting an outdoor exhibition in the garden of the Anna Akhmatova Museum. There, you will get the chance to truly dive deep into Brodsky's last days before his emigration. One of the walls in the garden will represent the interiors of the 1,5-room apartment, with memories growing out of it from under layers of  history, almost like the ruins of Pompeii uncovered from under centuries-old ash. Echoes of unfinished conversations, parts of verses, and interview excerpts will follow you as you follow the wall, letting you in on the secrets of one of the most well-known Russian poets of the 20th century.  

Mirrors and the Mirror-World exhibition 

Ever since their creation, mirrors attracted a lot of attention – being a means of self-discovery, a path into a distorted world, as well as a chance to see reality from a new angle. This international project, bringing together pieces from Russia, France, Italy, Greece, Israel, Spain, Czech Republic, and the USA, presents its visitors with an opportunity to reflect (if you pardon the pun) on the role of mirrors in art, travelling through dimensions in this curious exhibition. The mirrors scattered here and there across the exhibition hall only contribute to this curious merging of various art forms, giving you the widest overview of the concept – and object – in question. Yet again: don’t forget to purchase your ticket online before your visit. 

Lendoc Film Festival 

This international film festival will feature 19 contemporary non-commercial creations by teams from seven countries. There are four screenings this weekend, all of them on Sunday, November 15. First, there is a trio of short films (12 pm): Far (Kyrgyzstan, 2019), a story of a little boy whose parents went abroad to earn money; Sunflower (Kyrgyzstan, 2019), picturing an old man working in the field and sharing his experience of love and life; and Salt (Russia, 2020), a meditation on this simple spice travelling South to North through time and history. Then, at 1:30 pm, there is Gannibal (Russia, 2018), documenting an unexpected story of transformation of a Yakutian rock band frontman, followed at 3 pm by Erken Kisher (Lengthy Night; Armenia, 2018), presenting three tales of Armenian people in different eras. Finally, at 5:30, there is Inhale-Exhale (Georgia, 2019), a feature film about a woman returning to normal life after being released from prison, and questioning the world she finds herself in.