DISCOVERING RUSSIAN REALISM: THE ART EXHIBITION

VTB Capital presents the Russian art collection of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Singapore

Unveiling of the paintings

Art is a universal language that has been instrumental in building relations, developing connections and promoting mutual understanding between different cultures and traditions for centuries. World-famous art collections, owned by ruling dynasties, statesmen, industrialists and bankers, including corporate art collections, have become the pride of many nations. Today, art remains a popular alternative investment. Buying art is also a historical, intellectual and emotional investment.

On 17 May 2010, VTB Capital presented the Russian art collection of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Singapore. The exhibition marks the second anniversary of the company’s international success in investment banking and VTB Capital’s relocation to a new office in Singapore.

As the successor of Moscow Narodny Bank (founded in 1911 and a cornerstone of Soviet foreign trade), VTB Capital plays an important role in promoting relationships and cooperation between Russia and Singapore. This art show coincides with the ongoing Singapore Arts Festival and the Days of European and Russian culture. This emphasises the relevance of the VTB Capital event and makes it another contribution to the progress of Russia-Singapore relations.

HE Andrey Rozhkov, Russian Ambassador
to Singapore and Yuri Soloviev, Global CEO and President, VTB Capital

Andrei Rozhkov, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Singapore, provided his kind assistance to VTB Capital in selecting the works and arranging the exhibition.

The exhibition covers official Soviet art from the late 1950s to early ’80s. The art of this period is little known abroad, unlike Russian icons, the 1910 to 1920 Russian avant-garde and some turn-of-the-century contemporary Russian art.

Instead of construction project chronicles and the highlights of October 1917, the revolution which marked the beginning of the Soviet era, the Embassy opted for ideology-free landscapes and still lifes by masters of different generations. Social Realism stalwarts such as Boris Sherbakov and Nikolai Sisoyev are represented in the exhibition with their lyrical landscapes. Here, the world sees a new side of Soviet art – the private views of each individual painter.

Trademark Russian themes explored by famous artists – winter, the countryside and golden domes – reveal the poetic side of Russia to visitors, offering impressions that enrich lives and build a deeper understanding between people.

Alexey Dakhnovsky, Senior Counsellor, Russian Embassy in Singapore;
HE Mrs and Mr Andrey Rozhkov and Ambassador Michael Tay

Elena Kolesnik; Elena Lukianova, Head of Group Control, Analysis and Reporting, VTB Capital;
Julia Sherstyuk, Publisher, 103rd Meridian East; Svetlana Fedorenko, Global CFO, VTB Capital
and Olga Podoinitsyna

Hans Hyun, Head of Global Markets Asia, VTB Capital; Elena Kolesnik, Global Head of Business Management, VTB Capital; Andrei Girichev, Global Co-Head of Equities, VTB Capital and Oleg Pankratov, Co-Head of Global Banking, VTB Capital

Olga Podoinitsyna, Managing Director VTB Capital Global Communications and Marketing