New Book Highlights Moscow's Age-Old Buildings

  • 14 years ago
For more news visit ☛ http://english.ntdtv.com or Follow us on Twitter ☛ http://twitter.com/NTDTelevision

In Moscow, an artist and an historian have put together a joint book on the historical buildings of the capital. It reveals a poignant look at the amazing architecture of Moscow's downtown, with many of these buildings fast disappearing.

One artist in Moscow is brining the city’s old buildings to life in a new book entitled “Moscow: Home Album.”

There are no famous monuments, just life in the city. Artist Aliona Dergiliova and local historian Alexei Mitrofanov presented their book with illustrations and descriptions of buildings of the city’s historic downtown area.

There are about 60 paintings with descriptions in the album. There are buildings which most closely resemble ones from the artist's childhood memories.

[Aliona Dergiliova, Artist]:
“Once in my childhood I absorbed the smell of the peeled old walls. I feel them. What are they, what do they smell like, and how to live with them?”

She wanted to publish a book with her own drawings of the old Moscow.

[Aliona Dergiliova, Artist]:
“When I painted many houses, I did not know their history.”

In the artist’s paintings you can see the house where Russian writer Ivan Bunin met his wife. Or identify buildings that were made with pre-revolutionary tile.

But due to the rapid construction of buildings using modern architecture, the buildings that date back many centuries are disappearing in Moscow… a cause of concern for city residents.

[Natalia Menchinskaya, Architect]:
“I was born in Moscow. I cannot say I'm too fond of this city. Well, in general, it's still my home city. And now it is becoming more and more alienated. But it appears very familiar in Aliona’s paintings.”

The book is being added to a historical-cultural project called “Moscow, which does not exist.” It is added to a series of publications with the views of the old city.

NTD News, Moscow, Russia.

Recommended