In Moscow collect works for the exhibition, devoted to experimental theatre 1917-1932 years
ARTinvestment.RU   16 января 2017

Gallery "Elysium" together with leading museums is preparing a project about the little-studied phenomenon in post-revolutionary Moscow avant-garde theatre — experimental performances in small groups. Right now a search for works from private collections

Exhibition, scheduled to open in November 2017, has the working title of "Experimental theatres of Moscow 1917-1932. Small stage". And the key word here is "small". Indeed, the theme of large-scale projects of the resonance of the post-revolutionary theater of Moscow have been revealed in the framework of the exhibitions "Monuments of Russian theatrical avant-garde. 1910-1930" and "Artists of theater K. Ya. 1918-1932". This phase of the history of the young Soviet theatre is well studied. However, in the shadow of such prominent figures as Sergei Eisenstein and Alexander Tairov, in the post-revolutionary Moscow, there were dozens of small bands of daring, hot-headed, courageous Directors and actors, full of ambitious ideas and worked without regard for the theatre authorities.

Events that fit into 1917-1932, that country would be enough for a hundred years. Russia over the years managed to go the way of the revolution, surplus, military communism, civil war, — NEP concessions, and then the complete abolition of private trade. What here, it would seem that theatre? But the theatre is not just there, and experienced its heyday. The spectacle is not just compensated for the lack of bread. They were so diverse, that some art historians even compare this period with the theatrical Renaissance.

one way or another, but still not forgotten the hunger and devastation in the capital in the premises of the former hunting clubs, businesses and other redeveloped sites begin to gather in small groups and to put... no, not the play. Plays, of course, were also. But increased interest since the early 1920-х enjoyed a small theatrical forms. Usually it was entertaining performances. In difficult times, the audience require positive emotions (no wonder today so popular stand-апы and Comedy-клуб). So while filmmakers have relied on light genres: parody, slapstick, topical sketches, Comedy-буфф, grotesques, caricatures. In productions at the crossroads theatre, circus, cabaret and singers actively involved pantomime, acrobatics, experiments with sound and acoustics. Sometimes Directors-новаторы found quite exotic forms. That's what horoatu? Might look like agit-тарарам "Ali are you deaf"? Today to introduce the "advertising-театр" with elements of tragic farce? But it was not so. Avant-garde theatre in those years was subjected to even a top as a pointless spectacle. This is not fiction. Such an experimental format for the first time in history used in 1922 "Project-театр".

Received creative freedom theatre Directors staged the most ambitious challenges for the artists, too, not the limited means of expression and formats. Many theatre artists had, in fact, the cards-бланш that immediately led to the emergence of a bold scenographic sketches, avant-garde scenery and the incredible costumes. In the end, experimental theatre before the start of the repression has become one of the most innovative phenomena in Russian art of the XX century.

of Course, not many experimental performances of small theater groups have become "blockbusters" with the sea reviews and photos. And often age small theatre groups were very short. They flared up, burned brightly and died out suddenly. The time was fast: the groups "people's theatre" is often reordered, combined, were "compacted". So, forever vanished into history, the group of comedians "Free theatre", the theatre of the RSFSR-1 "sharp corners" under the leadership of A. Kasheuski, Workshop N. M. Foregger ("Mastor"), theatre-кабаре "do Not weep", "the projection of the Moscow theater" and many others.

But the traces of very many experimental endeavors are almost completely lost. Leaders and participants in small groups worked enthusiastically on stage, but didn't care enough to leave a paper trail in history. No wonder to collect evidence on innovative productions has bit by bit — according to the critics, according to newspaper notes, fragmented memories. The task is complex and ambitious. That is why all those who are currently involved in the preparation of the exhibition about experimental theatre (organizers, museums, theatres and collectors) have a chance to become the discoverers of unknown pages of avant-garde theatre. And right now, the assistance of experts in this area and owners of works of that period is required as never before.

to help the organizers of the exhibition artists of the experimental theater came leading specialized museums and theaters. Support for "Elysium" at their next theatrical project is already providing the State Tretyakov gallery, State Museum of fine arts. A. S. Pushkin, the State Central theater Museum im. A. A. Bakhrushin, the Russian state archive of literature and art, Central scientific library of the Union of theatrical figures, the State academic Bolshoi theatre, the State academic Maly theatre, Moscow art theatre etc., as well as private collections of Moscow and St-Петербурга.

Provided by the museums artifacts are the Foundation of the exhibition. Now the important second, no less important stage — search of works from private collections. After all, the main research task of any intellectual exhibition — is to form a more complete picture of a given segment, as well as find and include into the scientific circulation previously unknown to specialists work from private collections.

In early January 2017, the gallery "Elysium" dropped call: a search for the work and materials on the topic of experimental theatrical art. Drawings, sketches, posters, reviews, any evidence. In particular, for the exhibition are important works by the following authors:

• Eisenberg Nina Evseevna (1902-1974)
• Antimirova (Rodionova) Nina (1884 — after 1950)
• Bespalov, Mikhail Matveevich (1886-1952)
• Blumenfeld Nadezhda Germanovna (?–?)
• Bykov Anatoly Vladimirovich (1892-1943)
• Vishnevetskaya Sophia Kasyanovna (1899-1962)
• Volkov Boris Ivanovich (1900-1970)
• Galadzhev Peter S. (1900-1971)
• Golts Georgii Pavlovich (1893-1946)
• Dmitriev, Vladimir Vladimirovich (1900-1948)
• Vladimir Egorov E. (1878-1960)
• Zavadsky, Yury Alexandrovich (1894-1977)
• Isner Natalya Sergeevna (1893-1967)
• Quiring
• Knobloch, Boris G. (1903-1984)
• Rabinovich Isaak Moiseevich (1894-1961)
• Radaki Alexei Alexandrovich (1877-1942)
• Raspopov Rostislav Vladimirovich (1905-1973)
• Readman, Vsevolod Nikolaevich (1900 — after 1969)
• Savitsky Konstantin (1904–?)
• Sakhnivs Vsevolod Vladimirovich. (1903–?)
• Suckling Nicholas (1908-1970)
• Taldykin Alexander A. (?–?)
• Tikhomirov, Mikhail Nikolaevich (1890–?)
• Fedotov, Ivan S. (1881-1951)
• ferdinandov, Boris Alekseyevich (1889-1959)
• Foregger Nikolai Mikhailovich (1892-1939)
• Fradkin E. M. (1901-1981)
• Chebotarev, Konstantin (1892-1974)
• Sheldysheva Sofia Nikolaevna (1897 — no earlier than 1970)
• Shestakov Victor A. (1898-1957)
• Engels, Otto (Oleg) V. (1880-1940-е)

of Course, a list of important and wanted for the exhibition of the authors is not confined to the listed names. The subject is an experimental theatre presupposes the existence of forgotten and neglected artists. And the organizers along with the collectors will be especially thrilled by the new discoveries.

Selected for the exhibition works will be included in prepared in conjunction with the museums scholarly catalogue. Time enough. It is known that the formation of the list of works from private collections will be completed by may 31, 2017. To apply for participation in the exhibition it is possible to e-mail address [email protected] or by telephone 8 (499) 230 00 77.

Exhibition "Experimental theatres of Moscow. 1917-1932. Small stage" will be held in the Central house of artists (Moscow, Krimsky Val, 10). Let me remind you that according to the plans of the organizers of the opening is planned for November 2017.

To the gallery "Elysium" the planned exhibition will be the third on the theme of innovative theatrical Russian art, made in collaboration with the national museums and theaters. In 2006, the gallery did a project "Monuments of Russian theatrical avant-garde. 1910-1930". And in 2012 hosted an exhibition "Artists of theater K. Ya. 1918-1932". Both the exhibition project was accompanied by the issue of the scientific directory.

Vladimir Bogdanov, AI

Source: elysium.ru