A significant cultural event took place at Vienna’s Pygmalion Theatre — the opening of the Days of Russian Theatrical Avant-Garde.
The centerpiece of the program was the exhibition “Aristarkh Lentulov’s Mystery-Bouffe,” organized with the key support of the Russian-Austrian Public Forum “Sochi Dialogue”, the Embassy of Russia in Austria, and the A.A. Bakhrushin Theatre Museum.

The event was opened by Philipp Kaplan, director of the theatre and leading actor, who expressed shared delight at the successful realization of this bilateral project.
He emphasized that in the current geopolitical climate, such initiatives are especially important as they help preserve and strengthen humanitarian ties.
The evening’s central message was clear: “Culture knows no borders.”

Deputy Director of the “Sochi Dialogue” Forum, Daria Kozlova, delivered a welcome address on behalf of Andrey Fursenko, Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation and Co-Chairman of the “Sochi Dialogue.”
Her speech was translated into German by Stanislav Smirnov, Cultural Adviser of the Russian Embassy in Austria. At the conclusion of the translation, Mr. Smirnov personally expressed his gratitude to Sochi Dialogue for its significant contribution and outstanding organizational efforts that made this project possible.

In his address, Andrey Fursenko emphasized the special role of cultural diplomacy as a bridge of mutual understanding and trust between Russia and Austria:

“Cultural diplomacy between Russia and Austria plays an especially important role in today’s world, serving as a bridge of mutual understanding and trust between our two countries. Despite political differences, cultural ties make it possible to maintain dialogue and strengthen humanitarian relations based on shared values and a rich historical heritage.”

Andrey Fursenko also noted that the exhibition in Vienna — the largest display of Lentulov’s works abroad in the past 30 years — continues the proud tradition of using art as an instrument of “soft power” and a means of strengthening ties between nations.

The Artistic Director of the Pygmalion Theatre, Geirun Tino, spoke in detail about the importance of the Russian avant-garde for world art:

“The unique idea of the Russian avant-garde lies in the fact that its creators were the first to say that art should not be a mirror of life, but its filter. Without the Russian avant-garde, there would have been no French avant-garde, nor the greatest artists of the Western avant-garde. This movement was born from a spark ignited in Russia,” he stated.

As part of the Days of Russian Avant-Garde, which will run until October 30, audiences will also be able to enjoy performances based on the works of Anton Chekhov, Vladimir Mayakovsky, and Fyodor Dostoevsky, as well as a screening of Sergei Eisenstein’s legendary film Battleship Potemkin.

This project vividly demonstrates how the joint efforts of civil society institutions and cultural organizations help preserve strong bridges of friendship and mutual interest between Russia and Austria — even in challenging times.

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