From a public talk with artists to a perfume master class:Thestudy project of the Master's Programme “Arts and Culture Management”
On May 17, the gallery hosted a public talk with artists whose works are presented at the «Хирайт | Hiraeth» exhibition, that opened in April. (information about the exhibition can be found in the article).
The moderator of the public talk was Natalia Begesh, a well-known art historian and research associate of the State Hermitage Museum. During the meeting, artists Bulat Sabitov, Daria Zhdankina, Ksenia Zavarzova and Anna Jennifer talked about their creative paths, what place the themes of nostalgia and search for a home occupied in them. During the discussion, the artists shared their vision of the “Hiraeth” phenomenon - longing for a place or memory that cannot be returned to - as well as the ideas for future projects.
Bulat Sabitov, whose arts are widely represented at the exhibition in several halls, was born in the village of Kamskie Polyany in the Republic of Tatarstan in 1996. Bulat's life consisted of frequent travels that served as inspiration for his creativity. After graduation from the elementary school, Bulat moved to Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug-Yugra, where he later studied Journalism and History at the Yugra State University in Khanty-Mansiysk. Bulat has become interested in photography since his second year at the university and has been working as a journalist and photo correspondent. In his art, Bulat raises the themes of loneliness, self-determination and other challenging psycho-emotional conditions. According to Bulat, the art gives him the opportunity for self-expression, emotional relaxation, and finding answers to questions in difficult situations. These judgments get special sense, considering the fact, that Bulat has limited vision, he is colour-blind.
The artistic photographs presented at the exhibition were created by Bulat in the period from 2022 to 2025. The author describes his works as follows: "They convey a sense of loss and miss of home, a reflection on finding own place in the world. These are quite personal moments that are translated into expression through art. As for me, “Hiraeth” is an intangible thread that tries to connect my experiences and memories, to explain what and whom I miss for, what I truly love. With its help, I can try to get to know myself, problems and motives, ask questions, often rhetorical, nostalgic and reflect».
Bulat Sabitov:
“This exhibition was my first experience, so I am very glad that I was able to show my work, meet creative people, and exchange thoughts. It's nice to find like-minded people and be a part of a collective exhibition.”
The next event of the project was an author's perfume master class called "Reflection of the lost House", which was held on May 18 by artist Daria Zhdankina.
Daria was born in 2001 in the city of Zherdevka in Tambov region. She studied art history and painting at school, and began her career with photography. After moving to Moscow, she continued to work in photography and began studying design. The search for creative expression led Daria to become interested in perfumery, and from October 2023 to March 2024, the artist was trained in the basics of perfumery in Moscow. The created fragrances play a huge role in Daria's art works. They are mediums through which the artist develops communication with her audience, communicating not only through visual images, but also through different senses like the sense of smell.
During the master class, Daria talked about the basics of creating a perfume composition, the concept of a fragrance formula, and the features of the perfume palette. The participants of the master class made their own palette of fragrances associated with the feeling of “Hiraeth”, updated their memories and created their own unique perfume with help of perfume notes.
Daria Zhdankina:
“Аfter the exhibition and the master class, it became clearer: I'm on the right track. And also, thanks to my participation in the exhibition, I got to know cool people and, perhaps, we will have collaborations in the future.”
The project curator, art historian and art critic Ekaterina Shekova:
“This study project gave a unique chance not only for students to gain practical experience in organizing and promoting art exhibition and events at the gallery, but also for young artists from different Russian regions, working in various areas of contemporary art, to present their work in St. Petersburg at the well-equipped exhibition space of DOC ART GALLERY. Young artists were given a wonderful opportunity to introduce their art to the audience, find like-minded people among other artists, and receive professional curatorial support on their creative paths. I hope that participation in this project will be a successful start for their artistic careers and will allow them to find their own unique author's styles and create their personal brands щn the art market.”
The further development plans of DOC ART GALLERY include collaborations with universities, bloggers, artists, designers, as well as the opening of new exhibitions with grant funding and the development of a range of goods and services for visitors, including gallery merchandise. These plans were discussed at the final project defence, where first- and second-year students of the Master's programme “Arts and Culture Management” offered their recommendations on further increasing the recognition of DOC ART GALLERY in the art market of St. Petersburg and raising gallery’s income.
More detailed information about the project's activities can be found on the DOC ART GALLERY website and in the VK group.
Photos in the article were taken from the personal archive of E.L. Shekova.