Culture

28.06.23 Anna Zhila, music critic, whose education at the Gnesin Music Academy, Tretyakov Art Gallery, and Moscow Conservatory  Rock and roll, we are often told, is a dead language. It is a museum piece, a collection of classic riffs and heroic postures preserved in the amber of classic rock radio. The great tectonic plates of its Anglo-American empire,…

by Ann Zilbert 24.06.2023 Sunday 25th June, 3 PM, St Marylebone Parish Church, Marylebone Rd The joyous melodies of young musicians will fill the air this Sunday at St Marylebone Church as the RMA Junior Department Concert takes center stage. A harmonious blend of talent and passion, this musical extravaganza promises an unforgettable experience for…

by Ann Zilbert 22.06.2023 In the realm of contemporary music, few artists possess the ability to captivate audiences with their exceptional talent and boundless creativity. Among them stands Viktor Drobysh, a virtuoso musician, pianist, and composer hailing from Moscow. With a career spanning over two decades, Drobysh has continuously pushed the boundaries of musical expression,…

by Ann Zilbert 14.06.2023 In the realm of art that explores mythical landscapes and fantastical creatures, Dmitry Ginzburg emerges as a distinctive artist whose works transport viewers to the depths of magical forests. Through intricate and imaginative creations, Ginzburg weaves tales of enchantment, where witches roam and dragons soar through the skies. His exploration of…

by Anna Zhila There is a moment, just as the sun begins to dip below the horizon of a festival field, when the air becomes charged with a specific, electric potential. It is the sound of a thousand conversations, the distant thump of a soundcheck, the collective, held breath of a crowd waiting for the…

by Anna Zhila There is a certain kind of cultural event that functions not just as a festival, but as a city's soul. The Edinburgh International Film Festival is such an event. For decades, it has been a fixture in the life of the Scottish capital, a place of discovery, of conversation, of a shared,…

By Anna Zhila A government press release is a cold document. It speaks in figures and acronyms, of funding streams and strategic objectives. A recent announcement was no different: £58.8 million from the Cultural Investment Fund, allocated to over 70 organisations across England. On the surface, it is a piece of administrative news, a dry…

29.03.23 Michael Mittelman, art reviewer  The city has always been a significant source of inspiration for artists, as it represents a microcosm of humanity with all its complexity, diversity, and beauty. It has been depicted in many forms, including paintings, sculptures, photographs, and films. The city's representation in art has played an important role in…

22.03.2023 Michael Mittelman, art-researcher and critic Yuri Negrebetsky, Nothing, 2022. Nothing is an entity that comprises everything. Contemporary artists have always found new and innovative ways to express themselves, and now, many are turning to spectrograms of music as a new medium. Spectrograms are visual representations of sound that allow us to see the frequencies and…

By Anna Zhila The Audacity of Culture in a Bankrupt Borough There is a specific quality to the light in South London on a grey afternoon, a diffuse, almost watercolour wash that seems to cling to the concrete canyons of Croydon. It is a light that reveals everything. It catches the proud, brutalist sweep of…

13.03.2023 Maria Bregman is a journalist, writer and contemporary art researcher. In the world of music, it is rare to come across a performance that is not only highly skilled and highly educated but also has a focus on families and communities. "Bird-Music," a musical performance which has passed in the years 2022-2023, does just…

In the vast landscape of literary festivals across the UK, 2023 emerges as a year brimming with choices to satiate every book lover’s appetite. From the bustling heart of London to idyllic corners of the country, literary gatherings beckon with promises of thought-provoking discussions, engaging workshops, and the chance to interact with literary luminaries. Here’s…

Oil painting remains a favored medium for contemporary artists to showcase their talents and express their unique perspectives. From the sweeping landscapes of Justyna Kopania to the vibrant brushstrokes of Rim Safiullin, oil painting continues to produce some of the most breathtaking works of art.

29.01.2023 Maria Bregman is a journalist, writer and contemporary art researcher. As an art critic, I have had the pleasure of experiencing the work of Vladimir Shmoylov on multiple occasions. Each time, I have been struck by the way in which he masterfully explores the relationship between technology, design, and daily life in his work.…

By Anna Zhila There is a certain fragility to the public consciousness in the wake of a collective trauma. It is a state I have observed in different cities, at different times, a low, persistent hum of anxiety that settles in the spaces between people, in the quiet moments of a commute, in the hesitation…