On Saturday evening (May 19) over 200 museums and galleries in Moscow will keep their doors open well past the scheduled closing hours. Held for the 12th time, Moscow’s Night in the Museum annual citywide festival is expected to be the hit of spring season. Here are five not-to-miss events of the night we picked for you.
New Tretyakov Gallery
New Tretyakov Gallery will present a special project “Night in the Naughts” that is linked to the current exhibition, “Art of the 2000s.” Some of the other exhibitions will also be open for free that evening, such as “New Young Artists at the New Tretyakov Gallery” and “Igor Shelkovsky. City of Roads”, as well as the fabulous permanent collection. On Saturday night, the gallery will open its second entrance from the embankment and introduce new public art by street artist PokrasLampas, dedicated to the works of Vasily Vereshchagin, whose blockbuster exhibition is currently on (although closed during the night). The program starts at 6 p.m., and from 8 p.m. there will be a DJ set by popular musicians Deep Fried Friends in the courtyard.
10 Krymsky Val. Metro Oktyabrskaya. +7 (495) 957 0727. www.tretyakovgallery.ru
Museum of Moscow
The Museum of Moscow will open all of its current exhibitions for free, including self-explanatory “History of Moscow for Children and Adults,” “Enter into History” — the works of young Moscow street artists — and “Tragedy at the Corner: An Art Guide to Russia” representing contemporary works by 34 of the brightest young artists from 14 regions. A local food market will be open in the courtyard till midnight, and from around 8 p.m. a music stage will host several musicians, including popular post-punk rockers Pasosh. Classical music fans will be able to listen to the Symphony Orchestra and the Academic Choir of the Russian Gnessin Music Academy perform Sergei Rachmaninov.
2 Zubovsky bulvar. Metro Park Kultury. +7 (495) 739 0008. http://mosmuseum.ru
MMOMA
All five of the Moscow Museum of Modern Art venues will be open for Night in the Musem. The most eventful program will take place at the Gogolevsky Bulvar branch: three exhibitions, a music program, a food court and film viewings. The exhibitions include recently opened solo exhibition “Dance” by Sergey Sapozhnikov about the colorful world of hip-hop, break dance and street culture; and “Certificate”, a new project by Haim Sokol with installations, video, and “performative” drawings. There’s also a group exhibition entitled “My Precious. Hair” with sculpture, video works, and paintings of contemporary artists devoted to hair and its significance in modern culture. There will be a special performance at 8.30 p.m. In the courtyard the food court will be open all night and electronic-acoustic project SLOMOO will perform live at 9 p.m.
10 Gogolevsky Bulvar. Metro Kropotkinskaya.+7 (495) 231 3660. www.mmoma.ru
Solyanka VPA
Solyanka VPA (which stands for Video Performance Animation) is organizing a joint party with the bar “Untitled.” Entitled “Mad Tea Party,” it will include public talks, night tours of the current “New Japan” exhibition and a party with resident “Untitled” DJs. Organizers also promise lots of tea!
1/2 Ulitsa Solyanka. Metro Kitai-Gorod. +7 (495) 621 5572. solyanka.org
Museum of Russian Impressionism
Have you ever been in an empty museum? Do you know what happens inside when there’s a sign that reads “closed for installation?” On May 19 you will be able to see what’s usually hidden. Choreographer Ira Kha and popular contemporary theater director Yury Kvyatkovsky together with actors from Brusnikin's Workshop will present a production that combines documentary and plastic theater. It’s an interactive production, where viewers become participants. You will be able to "overhear" personal conversations of the museum staff and take a peek into the museum’s inner life.
15 Leningradsky Prospekt, Bldg. 11. Metro Beloruskaya. +7 495 145 7555. www.rusimp.su
For more information about all the museums, galleries and events in Russian — and for pre-registration for some events, see the site.
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