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Sholokhov Photo Exhibition in Argentina

A photo exhibition devoted to the art of the world- known Russian writer, Nobel Prize winner, Mikhail Sholokhov, had a successful run on November, 25, in Buenos-Aires, the capital of Argentina.

It was organized by the agency “Rossotrudnichestvo” at the bright spectacular festival of Russian culture “Mother Russia”. The citizens and guests of the capital got a unique opportunity to get to know the life and work of the great Russian writer, the rich culture, history and traditions of the Upper Don Cossacks, to talk with the grandson of the writer, Alexander Sholokhov, director of the writer’s Museum-Reserve in Stanitsa Vyoshenskaya, who presented the exposition “The Don. Sholokhov. Russia”. The symbolic opening of the exhibition, which became a remarkable feature of this year’s Festival, was simultaneous with the opening ceremony of the event.

Talking with the journalists Alexander Sholokhov said that the exhibition was designed primarily for the Argentines taking interest in the Russian culture. ”It was interesting for me to note, that when I come to South America – Brazil, Columbia, Bolivia ,– I realize, that for those people Sholokhov is a very significant man of literature”,– he  said. ”They deeply perceive his works; Sholokhov is interesting for them, because they see with their own eyes all the vicissitudes of the similar Civil War. The plot of “The Quiet Don” is very meaningful for them, they perceive it with their skin”’– the writer’s grandson said. The exhibition was open for visiting in the “House of Russia” during a week, after that it was sent to Cuba for storage, where it had been exposed in 2010, during the International Havana Book Fair. Sholokhov said that the exposition could be shown to the Cuban people in the Pushkin Hall of the National Jose Marti Library in Havana.

The Festival of Russian Culture “Mother Russia” first held in Argentina in 2009, has become a traditional annual public holiday organized by the city government of Buenos-Aires, the Russian Federation Embassy and the Coordinating Council of Compatriots.

Argentina became a home for the largest Russian diaspora in Latin America. Beginning in the late XIX century the migration became widespread followed by several waves of immigration. Two thirds of emigrants from Russia and the USSR have almost completely assimilated in Argentina; many of them have forgotten the Russian language. So the main purpose of the festival was to unite all the compatriots, to preserve Russian national culture.

The Festival gathered in one of the central streets of Buenos-Aires near the President palace “Casa Rosada” more than 40 folk groups representing a Union of Russian Compatriots who specially came to the capital from different parts of Argentina. The performers, young and old, wearing   colourful folk Russian dresses danced and sang songs of their distant home country. Different organizations including the Cultural and Scientific Centre of the Compatriots “Our Rus”, clubs-members of the Federation of Immigrant Cultural Organizations from Belarus, Russia, Ukraine (FCOIBRU) and the Russian Congress of Argentina were active organizers and participants of the Festival.

The Festival Fair attracted the Argentines and numerous tourists with souvenir shops selling colourful folk handicraft of Russia, cafes inviting to taste traditional Russian dishes and drinks.

The Russian ambassador in Argentina, Viktor Koronelly, in his welcome address said he could never imagine such a grand cultural event devoted to Russia   to take place thousands  miles away from Moscow, in the land of Argentina. He was greatly impressed with the artistic performance, high professionalism and love for Russia.

The head of the Argentine and South American Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Platon, noted, that everyone, who came to the Festival “Mother Russia”, could hear and enjoy the beauty of Russian songs, superb by themselves, though many of the people may have no idea of what they are sung about. ”I am proud of my Motherland, and enjoying this festival thousands miles away from Russia I see, that the genuine beauty is comprehended by all people, even if they don’t know the language and customs of our country, because they have an intuitive sense of beauty,”– the Bishop said. He added that the beauty must bring people together, in one family, for them to understand, that they should live together, work together to build their future putting aside bad intentions and any differences.

Galina Zhidkoblinova