In Moscow Kremlin museums was opened the exhibition «Charles Rennie Mackintosh : new style manifest» running from September, 5th till November, 9th and forming part of the cross - year of Great Britain’s and Russia’s cultures. It is for the first time that works of the well-known Scottish architect, designer and artist will be shown in Russia.
Charles Rennie Mackintosh (1868 – 1928) was one of the forerunners of the modern style in England and Europe. He created the idea of the complex design of the space and elaborated an unmistakably recognizable style the visiting card of which became the famous chair with the long back.
« For the first time Charles Mackintosh demonstrated one of his interiors in the Russian empire in 1902. His works exerted influence upon Russian artists, but they have not been brought to Russia after that. The exhibit in the Moscow Kremlin museums is the first - during more than hundred years - the grand - scale display of unique works by Charles Mackintosh in Russia», – Elena Gagarina, Moscow Kremlin museums General director observed.
On the display in the One Pillar Chamber of the Patriarch’s Palace unique works by Charles Mackintosh are represented : excellent samples of artistic furniture, works of the decorative and applied art, stencils, posters and watercolours. Among the most extraordinary objects are to be mentioned : chairs with grotesque high back, the secretaire looking like kimono, the bureau for smoking accessories encrusted with tinted galalith, the earliest version of plastic. Pearls of the exhibition are objects of furniture as well as of the decorative and applied art which were designed by Mackintosh purposely for famous tea - salons and habitable mansions of Glasgow : the table, the arm – chair, the splendid mirror and objects of furniture from the Chinese room of the tea – salon on Ingram street; several objects of furniture from the Hill House which survived till nowadays and represent a complete work of art.
«To our regret, we didn’t not manage to include objects from Glasgow school of art, one of the most considerable works of the architect. While preparing the exhibition several pieces were damaged or completely lost due to the fire. We view the mission of our exhibition project also in reminding of how fragile the historical monuments are and of how important is the careful attitude towards the cultural heritage», - Olga Dmitrieva, Deputy General director of the Moscow Kremlin museums underlined.
For the first time a richly illustrated exhibition catalogue dedicated to Mackintosh’s work has been prepared in Russian. Being an integral part of the exhibition project, the catalogue includes information concerning particularly those objects which were lost during the fire in Glasgow school of art.
«We would like to express particular gratitude to Victoria and Albert museum, as well as to the Art museum Hida Takayama which – taking into consideration the dramatic situation occurred in the Glasgow school of art due to the fire – responded to the Kremlin museum’s request and loaned objects for the exhibit project», - Elena Gagarina mentioned.
A vast educational program is dedicated to the display. Within the framework of the project «Scientists speaking : experts visiting Kremlin museums» historians and art historians from Glasgow, Charles Mackintosh’s native town, will deliver lectures on Mackintosh’s creative work.
For more information, please, call : (495)695 – 41 – 87
Anna Gus’kova
Moscow Kremlin museums press office
press@kremlin.museum.ru