Today, Minsk holds the title of the country’s capital and is one of the largest cities in Belarus. But if you take a look at the city through the prism of time, then a century ago the appearance and landscapes of the city were vastly different from the urban environment familiar to us now. At the beginning of the 20th century, Minsk was located over a complex geographical and historical periphery, and already on January 1, 1919, the city opened a chapter in its history as the capital of the BSSR. A new era in the life of the city begins.
In the 1920–1930s, more and more new residents arrive in Minsk. During this period, famous architects (Iosif Langbard, Georgy Lavrov, etc.) work in the city, creating new architecture, developing infrastructure of the entire city. The city does not leave artists indifferent either. More and more various graphic works and studies appear, revealing pages from the life of Minsk. This period is reflected in the works of artists such as Arkadz Astapovich, Yazep Drazdovich, Mikalai Duchyts, Mikalai Tarasikau, Mikhail Filipovich, Meyer Sliapyan and others.
After the stormy “birth of the capital” comes the Great Patriotic War, which left an indelible tragic mark on the life of the city. Destroyed, burned Minsk and its ruins became one of the main themes in the work of artists of this period (Askar Maryks, Monas Manaszon, Pavel Gutkousky, Anatol Tychina).
Before all the fires of war had even died down, a new stage – revival – already begins in the city that was just liberated on 3 July 1944. Almost from scratch, the city begins to acquire its new appearance, and is gradually restored in its entirety. Artists, like reporters, record all stages of the city's transformation, starting with the restoration of destroyed buildings and the construction of new ones. More and more often, the image of Minsk appears in the works of artists in various forms: original and printed graphics, painting, sculpture, and decorative and applied arts. During this period, paeans to Minsk were “sung” by artists such as Leu Leitman, David Genin, Siamion Gerus, Israel Basau, Siargei Katkou, Natan Voronau, and others.
The exhibition presents works from the collections of the National Art Museum of the Republic of Belarus, the State Museum of the History of Belarusian Literature, the Belarusian State Archive-Museum of Literature and Art, and the National Centre for Contemporary Arts.
The exhibition “Our Ancient Minsk, You Will Flourish” will be on display from 23 August to 6 October, 2024 in the exhibition building (24 Karl Marx St.)
