The desire to capture their vision of the world on a stone surface has been inherent in creative natures since the time of cavemen. Since then, people have changed a lot, but in any country in the world at all times there were those who tried to transform walls or make a masterpiece out of a fence. Even 30-40 years ago, street artists were arrested for vandalism, and their work was called daub.
In our time, such people are called masters of street art and they have entire cities at their disposal. Among them are recognized artists who are invited to work in world capitals, and thousands of people see their paintings every day.
The Museum of Street Art (St. Petersburg) allows not only to get acquainted with a new type of art, but also unites creative people.
Amazing Museum
Who would have thought that the cultural capital of Russia, St. Petersburg, would not only give its streets into the hands of artists, but also create a museum of their work? This is an unprecedented occasion for the recognition of a new art form.
A few years ago, graffiti was banned all over the world, and the masters,Owners of this technique were fined for damage to public property. Today, urban residents were able to appreciate how much the appearance of their houses changes when paintings appear on them.
The way the world works is that there are always those who strive to turn gray concrete and stone into a bright and colorful creation. Thanks to such talented activists, dirty house facades are being turned into outdoor art galleries.
The Street Art Museum was founded in 2012 on the territory of a laminated plastics factory. Once the largest production in the USSR for the production of finishing materials for metro escalators, elevators and trains in the dashing 90s, it became unprofitable and closed.
The idea to create a street art museum (address: Revolution Highway, 84) on such a large space filled with workshops and gray peeling walls came to the investors of the once unprofitable enterprise during a creative party of graffiti masters. In 2012, the legal registration of the event was made, but it took almost 2 more years to bring the idea to life. During this period, the concept of the future museum was formulated, artists were found and the direction of its development was determined.
Thus, in 2014, the street art museum was opened with the Casus Pacis exhibition, which was attended by more than 60 artists from different countries. This event became resonant in the art world, as it gave the opportunity for novice graffiti artists to show their talents, because anyone can apply online to participate in the museum's expositions by providing itorganizers information about themselves and examples of their work.
Currently, the street art museum consists of two parts:
- The permanent exposition is located on the territory of a working layered plastics plant. It includes not only the works of famous masters, but also the paintings of young talented artists, which are becoming more and more every year.
- Public area provided for temporary exhibitions and various creative activities.
The Museum of Street Art (St. Petersburg) is popular even among young people who are far from fine arts. The territory of the plant has become both a creative workshop and a place for youth parties.
Museum Tours
Naturally, the best time to get acquainted with the expositions of the museum is the period from spring to autumn. Winter is not very conducive to festivities on the factory floors, however, there are two excursions every weekend.
At 13.00 the guide takes the guests to the part of the plant where the permanent collection is exhibited. The story is being told both about the authors of the works and about the concept that they wanted to convey to their viewers.
At 14.00 there is a tour of the latest works of the masters, which are constantly updated with new compositions. You should not think that the street art museum is dedicated only to wall paintings. Here you can get acquainted with the work of young sculptors, graphic artists and installation masters.
Entrance to the museum is paid - 350 rubles. regular ticket, 250 - preferential. Entrance to the territory of the plant, located on the Highway of the Revolution, 84, onwheelchairs is prohibited as it is an operating facility where safety precautions must be observed.
Museum related events
In the warm season, the life of an unusual museum is filled with numerous events. It hosts concerts, exhibitions, film screenings, master classes from leading street art professionals, festivals and lectures. In winter, events do not stop, they are only transferred to suitable places.
For example, the speech of the museum's technical director was extremely interesting, who spoke about all the difficulties and deadlines that accompany each exhibition. In the short period of the museum's existence, more than a hundred authors have shown their talent on the territory of the laminated plastics plant (84 Highway of the Revolution).
To implement their creative ideas, completely different materials were needed: from construction debris for building a raft and a 90-meter banner to burnt boards for an installation. All questions regarding the search and delivery of the necessary "props" for artists are decided by the museum's technical director Alexander Mushchenko.
No less interesting are master classes designed for audiences of different ages. Children will learn how to make a beautiful kite with their own hands, and beginner artists will learn how to draw space with an airbrush. At the same time, the master works with four students, teaching them how to create an extraordinary picture of outer space on a 40x30 cm canvas. The cost of these master classes is 1500 rubles, but you need to sign up for them in advance, since they are held only 3 times a day.a week, 2 lessons a day, and there are a lot of people who want to create their own space world on canvas.
In general, the street art museum is something more than showing wall paintings to everyone. This is a creative workshop where young people discover their potential, learn all the facets of their abilities and let the world into their lives.
Educational programs of the museum
Sharing talent is the calling of any creative person. That is why eminent masters from different countries come to Revolution Highway, a street art museum, to acquaint everyone with the techniques they master in painting, drawing or sculpture.
This place is the only creative workshop in the world that teaches the latest art form. But besides this, the museum site becomes an "arena" for heated discussions about the mission of street art, its further development and what it should give to the outside world. It is in such disputes that ideas for the next works or exhibitions arise.
Each project implemented on the territory of the plant, where the street art museum is located, became an event for the whole city.
Museum projects: "The Fifth Element"
As a rule, artists collaborating with the museum embody their ideas not only on its territory, but also throughout the city. For example, the Fifth Element project is dedicated to the fight against evil through education. Lyceum No. 1 became its main protagonist, around which on the firewalls (blank walls of buildings made of fireproofmaterials) of four neighboring houses are located 4 important elements - creativity, energy, science and nature.
Each element was brought to life by a different artist. So nature went to the master from Perm, Alexander Zhunev. The theme of creativity was embodied by the artist and graphic artist from Poland Kreemos. The theme of energy was revealed by Muscovite Akue, and science by illustrator from St. Petersburg Floksy.
Each performer has his own vision of the element he got and the technique of writing it, but they are all combined.
Art landing
The townspeople and its authorities liked the idea of transforming the city with the help of thematic projects from the street art museum so much that 4 more buildings were given to the craftsmen for creative experiments.
This time the theme is sports and music. This is how a cyclist (“Speed”), football players (“Reason” painting), dudar and piano keys appeared on the buildings. What is indicative is that artists who have entered into a creative passion can rarely stop there. This time they went beyond the program, the nearby hotel, the yard of the polyclinic and the lyceum were transformed.
Unique X1 shop
Another creative project of the museum is to provide a legal platform for everyone who wants to show their street art abilities. For this, an abandoned workshop X1 was chosen, in eleven halls of which there are 1500 m2 of old shabby walls.
To date, it features more than 30 works by emerging artists and masteringworkshop space is just beginning. All images differ in different styles and techniques, and the plot reveals themes that are closest to the authors.
Thus, the old building takes on a new life, the voices of people are heard in it again, but now they are not plastic workers, but creators and their fans.
The Cause for Peace Exhibition
The first exhibition in 2014, organized on the territory of the street art museum, was originally dedicated to the theme "100 years since the start of the First World War", but the events taking place in the modern world turned out to be much more important for the artists, so the framework topics have been greatly expanded.
It was attended by 62 people who turned the museum's public area into a creative workshop for sculptors, graphic artists and artists. The main concept of the exhibition was the disclosure of the potential of a small person to a big city and its streets.
Discussions on these topics and a music festival were held as part of the event. As always, the unusual attracts a lot of curious people, so the opening of the museum did not go unnoticed by both the townspeople and representatives of the creative intelligentsia.
Remember tomorrow
The success of the event, which opened a “gateway” to an unusual museum, inspired its curators and craftsmen to the following topics. So in 2015, all previous works in the public part of the museum were removed, and a new exhibition “Remember Tomorrow” found life there.
25 people took part in itmasters from different cities of Russia, revealing to the general public their vision of the future in the world. What is attractive about such events is that they are in constant development, because while the public admires the finished street masterpieces and installations, the masters continue to draw new works.
Meaning of the Street Art Museum
It is hard to overestimate what the museum's curators are doing to develop the creative potential of Russian youth. Created at first for street art masters, it has become a "home" for representatives of all creative professions. Declare yourself to the world, get recognition, that's what young people want, and they get this opportunity within the walls of an old factory.
