Vitaly Zotov: 10 short questions

If not Sevastopol, then …

There is a share of provocation in this issue, because now my thoughts and plans are connected with the hero city, the city of glory of the Russian fleet, the future southern cultural capital. By saying this, I am not exaggerating. An important difference between Sevastopol and other cities where large cultural and educational clusters are now being created – Kaliningrad, Vladivostok and Kemerovo – is that it is in Sevastopol that we are talking about creating new federal cultural institutions. The buildings of the theater, the museum, the choreographic academy are not just being built, in which there will be branches of the leading institutions of the capital, but independent centers. They will form their program, generate cultural development trends, attract viewers from other cities and countries. In our case, we are talking about the creation of a new national collection of fine arts. Such events happen once in a hundred years. And you say: “If not Sevastopol …”.

Why should you go to a museum?

The museum gives an idea of ​​the culture of the people and shows the history of the development of society. Thanks to museums, many objects of civilizational heritage have been preserved, which are of both cultural and historical value. Going to museums enrich the inner world of a person, make it possible to touch history, feel the present, imagine the future on the basis of this! This is not only one of the best sources of internal development, but also a great way to take a break from the hustle and bustle of life, to reboot your brain.

The three main works of art that everyone should know?

Of course, this is Andrei Rublev’s “Trinity” – one of the main icons of Russian Orthodoxy and a stunning work of medieval art. The Return of the Prodigal Son by Rembrandt. And, perhaps, Malevich’s Black Square. Each of these works is not only a recognized world masterpiece, but also an excellent example of the evolution of an artistic language that never stops in its development. And most importantly, all these works are stored in Russia and you can see them with your own eyes.

Aivazovsky, Bogaevsky – who else?

Oh, this list could go on for a very long time. You mentioned not only prominent Russian artists whose names are strongly associated with Crimea, but also the topics of our previous research and exhibition projects. In this sense, our study of the creative and pedagogical heritage of Petrov-Vodkin and his student Lomakina, whose exhibition is currently being held at the Museum of Moscow, is also connected with the peninsula. We are interested in exploring the very “element of Crimea” – the energy that has been inspiring creative people for decades and centuries. Alexander Daineka, Grigory Nyssky, and Maximilian Voloshin will certainly be in this row – artists who selflessly loved Sevastopol and the Crimea. And many others…

What to see in Sevastopol?

In Sevastopol, you need to see the sea, framed by the rocks of Fiolent and Cape Aya, ornate bays, feel the heroic spirit and energy of the city, the originality of its inhabitants, selflessly proud of their history, feel the white stone architecture by the sea.

What is the art of the future?

It is always a search for new forms, materials, ways of visual interpretation of the author’s intention. What seems unacceptable today may become a classic fifty years from now. The task of museum workers is to find in this variety what is really of value, to study and preserve it for future generations. For example, at one time the appearance of photography revolutionized the visual arts – a new artistic language appeared, impressionism, non-objective painting and many other “isms” replaced academic realism. The same thing is happening today – new visual technologies or the rapid development of neural networks inevitably lead to innovations in art.

First emotions from the architectural project of the museum?

Of course, delight! The project created by the world architecture legend Wolf Prix once again proves that architecture is a living organism. Sevastopol was twice destroyed almost to the ground, but each time rising from the ruins, it acquired new outlines. We are currently preparing an exhibition dedicated to the 240th anniversary of the founding of Sevastopol, dedicated to architecture – its metamorphoses and incarnations in real life.

The best thing that happens in a day…?

Discoveries. Working in a museum provides such an opportunity. New people, new names, new stories. You get great pleasure, for example, when you read the reviews of visitors about the work of the museum, about this or that exhibition. Last year, for the first time, we showed the audience several items from our newly emerging collection, identified the main areas, names, and research interests. So the exhibition was called “Calibration. The Art of the Future Museum. And they invited the audience to share their impressions – in fact, to take part in shaping the future meeting. I was quite surprised and delighted when my colleagues, as a result, showed me a thick stack of scribbled sheets of paper, where there were emotions, suggestions, and criticism – such feedback is an invaluable research material for our art historians.

What are your hidden talents?

Well, look, it’s immodest to talk about your talents yourself. I try to notice details that are invisible at first glance or do not seem important. I always try to look at the work of the museum through the eyes of a visitor – after all, we work for people. And this concerns not only the accessibility of the presentation of the material, it also concerns the everyday aspects of the museum’s work. Focusing on this or that audience, we must speak with it in a language that it understands, while remaining a serious institution that holds a certain bar.

When does the working day end – does it begin …?

Time for hiking. For many years, I have preferred to explore the city on foot, be it the capital or a small provincial town. It is always an opportunity to look at the place through the eyes of its inhabitants, pay attention and see some sights the way people who see them every day do. A very interesting experience. In Sevastopol, now every such walk necessarily includes the construction site of our museum – you see how the building is literally growing before your eyes, the surrounding landscape is changing. This is very inspiring.