VDNKh. Attempt of Revival

The Soviet version of consumerism shaped by the needs of a state-controlled economy meets nowadays “walk, relax, consume” lifestyle in Moscow VDNKh, the Exibition of the Achievements of the National Economy.  In the USSR the exhibition provided a space in which Soviet people could witness a new, utopian reality that was believed to be imminent. Today VDNKh is going to become the trendiest place in Moscow. Parks’ renovation which is considered to be a part of a citywide attempt “to make Moscow more liveable” reached the most important public showplace for Soviet economic ideology. This way VDNKh will be the northern analogue of Gorky park with different hip amusements that usually attract crowds of people.

The place designed solely to boost the glory of the State is unlikely to be left without any ideology (regardless of the “walk, relax, consume”). Those who are in charge of the VDNKh revival haven’t worked out any philosophical program yet. So famous Moscow journalist Sergey Mostovshchikov did it instead. Mostovshchikov, a former editor of “Stolitsa” (“Capital”) and “Bol’shoy gorod” (“Big City”) city magazines, suggested philosophy and methodology of “neovandalism”. Compared to normal vandalism neovandalism “doesn’t destroy the previous concepts”. A contrario, it creates “lots of new amazing substances”, which are completely meaningless. Thus it helps to involve young, energetic, sensible people into processes that have no goals and result in nothing, Mostovshchikov explains sarcastically. In new VDNKh, for example, these substances could be represented by falafel academy, wi-fi factory, co-working palace, ziggurat building and other “amazing” things. Let’s live and see…
In the authorities' quest  for profit three of northeast Moscow's most popular recreation spots will be merged to form the largest park in the city. VDNKh, with the neighboring Botanical Gardens and Ostankino Park will cover territory of about 540 hectares. Upon completion, the estate of Ostankino will have a scenic landscape resembling parks of the late 18th and early 19th centuries while at the same time being fully equipped for modern use. In addition to a skatepark, it will have a horse-riding track, children's playgrounds, sports grounds and a boat station. Imagine sports grounds in a Palladian villa!

Despite the renovations VDNKh  still keeps the spirit it took on in the 1990s: a strange mixture of emerged capitalism and social realism, a commercial instruction and a festive atmosphere. In VDNKh one can see dramatic sculptural fountains, exotic pavilion facades, ponds, gardens as well as kiosks, stalls, shops and cafes. Rockets neighbor sheaves of wheat, apple gardens coexist with pompous architectural ensembles, an orthodox church is close to the monument dedicated to a soviet scientist and so on. 

Priamukhino. Academic conference

This year the Priamukhino Readings devoted to Bakunin’s bicentennial invited participants from across the globe. People from Belgium, Brazil, Japan, Italy, France, the USA, “from the four winds” came to Mikhail Bakunin’s birthplace.

 The participants in sweet Priamukhino harmony

The conference started on July 12^th and took place in the building of Priamukhino municipal school. To my mind it is quite honest to show the foreign guests not well-equipped campuses of some university but an ordinary Russian village school. So the listeners and the presenters made themselves snug on the long benches in the interior decorated with Russian motifs. The presenters gave their speeches in front of the audience with birch trees in the background. I hope the iconic wallpaper didn’t draw the attention away from the reports because the latter were really interesting.

Convention hall. 

Tatiana Bakounine's speech

The tone of the conference was set by Tatiana Bakunina, a granddaughter of the last owner of the Priamukhino estate, who left Russia forever in 1917. In her speech named “What does Mikhail Bakunin represent for me?” Tatiana said: “Anarchism to me is not a doctrine, it is a utopia: a goal or ideal to strive for. It is a way of life, a philosophical attitude that everyone lives and practices in their own way.” What a pleasure was to hear the words like those from the Bakunins’ descendant!