The Museum of Oriental Art is one of the richest and most interesting museums in Moscow. In it you can get acquainted with numerous examples of creativity: household items, weapons, religious attributes, sculpture, paintings by famous masters and unknown craftsmen from Eastern countries.
Historical digression
The Oriental Museum in Moscow owes its appearance to the famous merchant and philanthropist Pyotr Schukin. He opened the Shchukin Museum on Malaya Gruzinskaya Street, where he exhibited items from his oriental collection. The merchant collected various "antiquities" from Persia, China, India, and was interested in old engravings. The museum was not closed even after his death in 1912.
After the 1917 revolution, the Shchukin collection became the basis for the creation of a new museum, Ars Asiatica ("The Art of Asia"). It was supplemented with exhibits from other private collections expropriated from the owners. It is noteworthy that the museum was born on October 30, 1918, and the very next yearthe first exhibition opened.
In the future, the Museum of the East replenished its funds both at the expense of exhibits donated by connoisseurs of art, and at the expense of objects obtained during archaeological and ethnographic expeditions. Some of the materials were shared with the museum by other government agencies.
In the post-war years, the countries that chose the socialist path of development or freed themselves from colonial dependence became the main source of new exhibits. In gratitude to the USSR for their support, the leaders of the young states presented gifts to the leaders of the party and government, among which were real masterpieces. The geography of the museum expanded, it changed its name several times and, finally, in 1992 it was renamed the State Museum of the East.
Museum location
At first, the Museum of the East in Moscow did not have a permanent building. Until 1930, he managed to visit the "Girshman's house" at the Red Gate, and the Russian Historical Museum on Red Square, and Rozhdestvenka in the VKhUTEMAS building, and Kropotkinskaya Embankment. The first permanent location of the museum was the Church of Elijah the Prophet. When moving to a new place in this building there was a depository. And later, the Museum of the Peoples of the East placed its restoration workshops in it. The museum's science library is also located in the old building.
In July 1941, the most valuable exhibits were taken to Novosibirsk, some - to Solikamsk. The Oriental Art Museum itself was closed. However, already in May 1942, an exhibition of paintings by artists of Kazakhstan andUzbekistan. In 1944, the exhibits were returned from evacuation. And in May 1945, the first permanent exhibitions were already open.
Oriental Museum on Nikitsky Boulevard
The current building that houses the museum deserves interest in itself. The "Lunin House" on Nikitsky Boulevard was transferred to the museum in 1960. This classical-style mansion was built for the family of Lieutenant-General Lunin after a fire in 1812. The architect of the main house of the estate was Domenico Gilardi. According to his project, they began to erect a building with a large loggia and columns in the Corinthian style, giving a solemn look to the main entrance. But by the end of construction, Lunin died, and the widow's house was bought by the Commercial Bank. He was in the building until 1917.
The strict and graceful lines of the building fascinate with their beauty. Huge halls and long staircases are reminiscent of traditional magnificent balls of the 19th century. But, according to many museum workers, the premises are not suitable for exhibitions, and especially for storage facilities. It would be best if a new, large and comfortable building was built for the rich fund of the most amazing museum.
Permanent exhibitions
The museum contains the richest collection of works of art from various directions. In total, the funds contain about 150 thousand of the most valuable exhibits, most of which are unique works of art. The Museum of the Peoples of the East in 1991 was under the Decree of the President of Russiaclassified as "Especially valuable objects of cultural heritage of Russia".
Permanent exhibitions are open, which exhibit masterpieces of art from China, Japan, Southeast Asia, India, Iran. A huge part is made up of works of art from the countries of Central Asia and Kazakhstan. Much attention is paid to the Buddhist art of Buryatia, Mongolia, Tibet.
In the exhibition dedicated to the painting of Transcaucasia and Central Asia, a special place is given to paintings by famous masters Martiros Saryan and Niko Pirosmani. These works, which are not like traditional paintings by Eastern artists, make you understand that there are no boundaries and limits for a true artist.
A separate room is dedicated to the art of the peoples of the North, where special attention is paid to walrus bone carving. It's hard to believe that even ordinary household items can be so beautiful.
Creative heritage of the Roerichs
In addition to the actual museum objects of oriental culture and art, the department dedicated to the heritage of Nicholas and Svyatoslav Roerich occupies a special place in the museum. These are two halls, which contain 282 paintings by famous artists - father and son. The collection is one of the largest in the world. Traveler, philosopher and artist Nicholas Roerich spent the last decade of his life in a small village in the Himalayas. For his amazing paintings depicting magnificent views of the mysterious and distant Tibet, he was called the "master of the mountains." Most of the paintings in the museum belong to this period. These bright and impressive paintings alone justify a visit.museum.
Nicholas Roerich became the founder of his own teaching, which brought together Eastern mysticism, pantheism and high European culture. This direction of esotericism has found many followers in the world. They are also attracted to the Museum of Oriental Art (Moscow).
The Roerich memorial office also presents the rarest book editions. Some of them exist in the world in a single copy. In addition, he has collected a unique collection of oriental antiquities.
Scientific work
The State Museum of the Peoples of the East from the first days began research activities. It was necessary to study all the collected exhibits, to establish the ways of their entry into Russia, to trace the path in history, the features of the art of the peoples inhabiting the eastern regions of Eurasia.
The beginning of the archaeological direction was laid in 1926, when two important expeditions to Termez (Turkmenistan) were organized under the leadership of the then director V. P. Denike. Their result was the appearance in the museum of objects from the excavations of the palace of the XII century.
In 1929, the first expedition to purchase items of oriental art was carried out.
Scientific work did not stop even during the Great Patriotic War.
Currently, almost two thirds of the exhibits presented in the museum are the results of archaeological expeditions. Their age varies from the Neolithic to the XIV-XV centuries.
The scientific library of the museum has more than 80 thousand books onart of the peoples of the East. Many of these editions are very rare, and there are some absolutely priceless rarities.
Since 1987, the museum has a research institute. It employs more than 300 specialists, including many doctors and candidates of sciences. In addition to purely scientific work, they often conduct tours of individual rooms and give lectures on oriental culture and art.
Outreach
The Museum of Oriental Art in Moscow is one of the most actively working educational centers in the country. A lecture hall is constantly working in it, lectures in which are read by excellent specialists who are passionate about their work. You can attend a separate lecture or buy a subscription to their cycle on a specific topic. Exhibitions of contemporary art are often organized, especially paintings by our contemporaries, inspired by oriental motifs. Thematic screenings of films dedicated to the countries of the East, their past and present are held. From time to time, collections from other museums around the world are displayed. For example, an exhibition dedicated to the samurai, which arrived directly from Japan, received a great response.
Those who are interested in the culture of the Eastern countries are attracted to the Museum of the Peoples of the East and various events. For example, tea ceremonies are held here every week, which lovers of Japanese culture seek to attend. The Museum of the East organizes the work of painting studios for adults and children. The theater of Indian dance "Tarang" has also become a permanent partner of the museum.
WhenIf you wish, here you can get the initial skills in playing oriental instruments, oriental dances, the art of arranging bouquets - ikebana.
By prior arrangement, you can also work in the reading room of the museum's library, using the rich scientific literature on oriental culture and art.
Working with children
For the younger generation, the State Museum of the Peoples of the East also offers a wide range of activities. These are thematic excursions through the halls of the museum, conducted by excellent connoisseurs of oriental art, and lectures that supplement school programs on history, geography, and world artistic culture. Lectures-concerts are very popular, which, along with verbal information about the work of the peoples of the East, clearly demonstrate it and have an entertaining component.
For more than 20 years there has been a children's art studio "Turtle" in the Museum of the East. In it, schoolchildren study painting, drawing, graphics, arts and crafts. And the younger members of the studio enjoy modeling clay and clay, origami and appliqué.
Children's tickets to the museum are much cheaper than adults, and entry is free for preschoolers. For other types of services - lectures, excursions, various classes - various discounts are also provided.
For antique lovers
An antique gallery "Sean" was created at the museum. It is the only one of its kind, since there are no other galleries dealing specifically with oriental antiques in our country. It mainly contains variousart objects from Japan and China. Products made from various materials traditional in the East - bronze, porcelain, wood, bone - are in great demand among collectors. Jewelry, embroideries, carpets, national clothes are presented not only from the Far East, but also from other countries of Asia and Africa.
The most famous collection of Japanese miniature figurines - netsuke and okimono.
At the same time, the gallery offers museum visitors relatively inexpensive items that can be bought as a souvenir, a gift for a birthday or anniversary, and for home decoration. Oriental fans, robes, bracelets and rings of traditional minting are just a few of what you can buy here.
Worth a look
Of course, the Museum of Oriental Peoples in Moscow presents a huge collection of various art objects. But some exhibits attract more than others.
These items include the world's largest ivory eagle figurine. It was brought as a coronation gift to Nicholas II from the Japanese emperor. Surprisingly, this work was done in a complex combined technique. The craftsmen made the body and wings of the eagle from wood. And one and a half thousand carefully polished ivory plates went to the plumage. And the eagle is located against the background of a screen, which depicts a stormy sea - a favorite motif of Japanese artists.
The visitors are greatly impressed by the collection of Buryat masks used during ceremonies. Terrible faces on them are designed to scare away evil spirits andwould be perfect for horror movies.
The skill of chasers and engravers is represented in the collection of silver jewelry from Turkmenistan and Dagestan (famous Kubachi items). The finest walrus ivory carving made by Chukchi craftsmen attracts the eye. And in the neighboring rooms you can see ivory products from the other side of the globe.
Numerous Buddha images brought from different countries are both similar and different at the same time. Some of them have a stern expression on their faces, others smile, and others are detached from the world and focused on themselves. The Buddha figurines from the Indochina peninsula are amazing - with earlobes drawn to the shoulders.
Chinese craftsmen became famous for carving nested balls from ivory, and they were made from a single piece of bone, sometimes over the course of several generations. Or a village carved on an elephant tusk, where you can distinguish the facial features of each inhabitant and they are individual for each! How can one not recall the "clay army" of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, in which each warrior was molded from a specific person!
Interesting collection of carpets. There are ancient handmade products made of natural silk. At the same time, samples of modern carpets made of wool and other materials are nearby. There are products dedicated to significant events in the life of the country.
During the years of Soviet power, images of V. I. Lenin and other leaders of the world proletariat, performed in a variety oftechnique: paintings, sculptures, carpets, wood and bone carvings… Now the vast majority of them are in the museum's depository.
The State Museum of Oriental Art is proud of amazing examples of Oriental painting. These are various landscapes on paper or on silk, originally from Japan and China. The images made with ink on silk amaze with their colors and subtlety of work.
Porcelain products are represented primarily by Japanese netsuke figurines. They were used as a counterweight to the weights on the belt, because Japanese kimonos do not have pockets. They are similar to other figures that were placed in the niche of the house, where it was customary to hang a picture or a wise saying. These miniature sculptures are called okimono.
The museum has something to see for a scientist, a schoolchild, and just a lover of the mysterious world of the East. Moreover, ticket prices are quite democratic, and there is a system of discounts for certain categories of visitors.
If you want to temporarily forget about the surrounding routine, gray everyday life, visit the Museum of the Peoples of the East in Moscow!
