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Exhibition Project “Don.Sholokhov.Russia” Started in Yugra

On September, 1, the Museum of Nature and Man in Khanty-Mansiysk opened an exhibition devoted to the great Russian writer Mikhail Sholokhov.

The exhibition was organized by the Yugra Department of Culture, the National M.A.Sholokhov Museum-Reserve and the Museum of Nature and Man. The exhibition proceeds the cycle “Museums of Russia for Yugra”, which enables the residents and guests of Khanty-Mansiysk to view the collections of the leading museums of Russia.

The exhibition project was timed for the 110th anniversary of the great Russian writer Mikhail Alexandrovich Sholokhov and was the major event of the Year of Literature in the Museum of Nature and Man. The exhibition displays over 300 unique exhibits: personal belongings, photographs, the main awards and prizes of M.A.Sholokhov, books from the Sholokhovs’ library including the first editions of the novel “And Quiet Flows the Don”, manuscripts of the novels “Virgin Soil Upturned” and “They Fought for Their Country”.

Speaking at the project opening ceremony Alexey Putin, Deputy Governor of Yugra, noted the symbolism of the exhibition starting on the Day of Knowledge. He said: “Here you can learn not only about the literary works of the great writer, but also see how he lived, his personal belongings and to listen to his grandson telling about him. I think the exhibition will be interesting for both children and grown-ups. Schoolchildren should come here and touch the history of Russia and the Cossacks.”

“This is a proceeding of the last year project that took place in Salekhard, there was born the idea of holding the exhibition in Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug. We wanted to show the Yugra people the role of Mikhail Sholokhov’s personality, the atmosphere, where he lived, and the environment, where he was made a writer. The Don region is closely connected with the name of the writer and his work. Here from comes the name of the project”, – told Sholokhov’s grandson, Director of the Museum-Reserve of M.A.Sholokhov.

“All want to know which of the things here is the dearest for me, – Alexander Sholokhov shared his impression taking with journalists. – As for my heart, the dearest are the memorial things. They are dear not only for me personally, but they are also historical relics. I have a special feeling when, for example, watching this cigarette-holder with a half-smoked cigarette: it must have been the only time in the life of Mikhail Alexandrovich, when he couldn’t smoke the cigarette to the end. It happened before his death. And sometimes I watch with delight the fishing and hunting items, because all our family were hunters and fishermen, and it makes me happy.”

The Director of the Museum-Reserve presented books and souvenirs – small scented bags with the Don herbs – with the inscription “Open Air Novel”.

On the day of opening the exhibition Alexander Mikhailovich Sholokhov met with the senior students of the city secondary schools, and this meeting made a

start in the big educational project “The Museum – for the School” of the Yugra state museums.

The talk, which was joined by more than a hundred students, was interesting and informative. The children asked different questions: about the work of M.A.Sholokhov, his books, about Cossacks, the life in the Don region, about the Museum-Reserve and whether it is difficult to be a grandson of the great writer. Alexander Mikhailovich answered all the students’ questions thoroughly, openly and with humour.

As well, the Director of the Museum-Reserve of M.A.Sholokhov met with the workers of the cultural and educational institutions of the city, with the intellectuals, young poets, writers and admirers of the work of the prominent writer. The talk was very interesting. Alexander Mikhailovich told about the Museum-Reserve of M.A.Sholokhov, about the people who lived in the times described in the novel “And Quiet Flows the Don” and about those living in the Don region now, and, certainly, about his grandfather, the famous writer. A well-known Yugra poet Andrey Semyonovich Tarkhanov, a great lover of Sholokhov’s work, presented the guest with a book of his poetry with his dedication to the writer.

The exhibition will run in the Museum of Nature and Man until October, 11, 2015.

Irina Koveshnikova