Museum Hopping In Moscow

A far cry from the Soviet Union’s chequered history with creative freedom, Russia’s new billionaires are leading a movement for the revival of art. Historically known for its ballets, symphonies, and literature, Moscow today rivals Paris and New York in world-class museums.

- Shaikh Ayaz

 IT’S not exactly the white Russian night of Dostoevsky’s dreamy imagination. However, despite the freezing temperature and low-hanging moon, Muscovites have turned up in droves to celebrate the opening of a new exhibition, titled General Rehearsal, at the Moscow Museum of Modern Art. Outside, a lavish bash is on with the rich, powerful and glamorous swilling vodka and plying themselves with appetisers. In another century, this kind of art scene would have belonged to bohemian Paris or Florence, the art meccas of the world. Today, fuelled with petrodollars and new money, the art scene in Russia is booming. The new billionaires are spending their rouble on the old and sophisticated pursuits of art, turning Moscow and St Petersburg into major contemporary art hubs.

Long known as the ultimate address for ballets, operas, symphonies and of course, literature, Moscow’s well-curated museums are rivalling those of the West and reshaping our thoughts about art, its purpose, and its influence on contemporary society and politics. For an art lover, the aesthetic attractions in Moscow are practically unending. Museums and galleries of different persuasions cater to a wide range of tastes. Feast your eyes on Picasso, Basquiat, JeffKoons, and Warhol, and at the same time, engage with the subversive art of local heroes like Vladimir Yankilevsky.