The exhibition hall of the SPbGASU Faculty of Architecture is hosting the exhibition "Monumental art in architecture". It presents art works by students of the monumental painting workshop of Professor Aleksandr Bystrov from the St Petersburg Academy of Arts named after I. E. Repin. This event has become significant for both universities, for future architects and artists who intend to jointly develop the synthesis of arts in design, that is, to include artistic elements in the concepts of architectural objects, for example, monumental paintings, mosaics, stained glass.

The first experience of cooperation was in term papers

As explained by the Head of the SPbGASU Department of Urban Planning, Yulia Yankovskaya, this year the Faculty of Architecture looked for creative exchange and the renewal of the concept of “synthesis of the arts.”

"To do this, first of all, it is necessary to train architects who will understand the specifics and compositional and artistic means of monumental art and introduce them into the architectural environment of a modern city. As part of the program design, we conducted an experiment: in their projects of the landscape and recreational environment of the city, students of the Department of Urban Planning included artistic compositions of the term and diploma works of monumental artists proposed by the teachers of the Academy. The exhibition includes works, elements of which our students used in their projects," explained Yulia Yankovskaya. Second-year student of the SPbGASU Department of Urban Planning Ekaterina Zlotnikova is among such students. She and her coursemates are developing a project for a park in Gatchina as part of a competition announced by the architect Boris Zaitsev and have already gained their first experience of interaction with students of the Academy of Arts.

"We found it interesting to develop compositional solutions based on paintings. Here you need to find a conceptual idea, understand the artist's intention and embody it in architecture. This is a fascinating arts direction! I want to continue such interaction," said Ekaterina.

Her coursemate Artem Novikov clarified that he and the guys developed one of the sections of this park and gained interesting experience in design.

"Usually you work within the framework of the urban development system, that is, within your activities. Here, a new plot link appears. I used the sketch of the stained glass window "Fastidious horses" by fourth-year student of the Academy Anna Ivanyan. I was attracted by its dynamics. Artistic elements are appropriate to introduce not only in playgrounds, but also in public spaces, and in general, the potential for such cooperation is great, so I want to continue interacting," Artem noted.

Daria Popova, a 2024 graduate of the Academy of Arts, believes that such cooperation is useful for students of both universities, since during their years of study they have little idea of ​​all the intricacies of interaction in their future professional sphere.

"Working on joint projects, we learn to communicate within the professional activity, understand each other's tasks and goals, find consensus. I would like to increase the number of such exhibitions, competitions, which become a demo version of the joint professional activity of artists and architects. In my opinion, a more correct approach is to start working on a project simultaneously, in a single bundle, rather than to fit artistic elements of already finished paintings into finished projects. And in order for such creative tandems to form, you need to start making friends already in your years of study," says Daria.

Exhibition on a visit

Opening the exhibition, Marina Malyutina, SPbGASU Vice-Rector for Youth Policy, called this collaboration interesting and even unique, and the opening of the exhibition a major event in the cooperation between the two universities. "This is the first experience of such interaction. I hope that in the future we will be able to build closer cooperation in order to work together for the benefit of our city and to develop the professional competencies of students," she noted.

Dean of the SPbGASU Faculty of Architecture Ekaterina Vozniak expressed readiness for any cooperation with the Academy. Dean of the Faculty of Painting of the St Petersburg Academy of Arts Ilya Zorkin supported the idea of ​​developing joint activities.

Aleksandr Bystrov thanked our university for the opportunity to combine two professional fields, which is necessary today.

"We are talking about the future, which is impossible without basic professional education and understanding of what architecture and art are required in the modern world. Architecture, painting, sculpture and education are the basis of our work at the academy. In the workshop, we deal with issues of the connection between fine art and techniques, types, genres of architecture. We teach students different techniques, give them different topics in order to cultivate talented masters in them. We adhere to classical canons, but are also ready to work with modern and even paradoxical architecture, devoid of any laws, thinking about the possibility of introducing beautiful artistic ideas into it. All this together will help us cultivate strong and talented architects, artists, masters of their craft," said Aleksandr Bystrov.

He explained that the exhibition presents works by third- and fourth-year students of the workshop from different years, as well as works in the material. Stained glass, mosaic, sgraffito, hand weaving, frescoes – monumental techniques that students study.

"When you look at the works presented, it becomes clear that all the sketches were created for a specific architecture, be it a theater foyer or a library, a restaurant or a historical museum. The dialogue about the interaction of architecture and fine art has always existed. An artist and an architect, embodying the idea of ​​harmony in their works, often go together. In interaction, complementing each other, they set the task of transforming everyday life, interior, and environment. In this co-creation, the transformation of architecture occurs," says Aleksandr Bystrov.

Anna Veksler, a member of the Union of Artists of Russia and Head of the Department of Decorative Arts and Design at the A. I. Herzen Russian State Pedagogical University, emphasized that it is important for students to see what is happening in art education as a whole, since in their professional activities they will have to interact with specialists from different fields. “The exhibition is not just a presentation of the workshop’s work, but also a demonstration of another possible professional path, collaboration, and new connections. I would like such joint events to become traditional and provide an opportunity to solve common problems, for example, within the framework of term papers and theses,” she said.

Professor at the SPbGASU Department of Urban Planning Vladimir Sementsov reminded that historically our university and the Academy of Arts are closely connected with each other, for example, in the training and work of academicians. "It makes my heart happy to see that painting and monumental art have come to architecture. This is an additional incentive for our unification," the professor emphasized.

Vladimir Demin, First Deputy Director General of the State Unitary Enterprise for Dacha Services "Prigorodnoye", believes that the main thing in such interaction is a creative impulse, which is often lacking in urban planners and architects, who are constrained by the framework of laws. "Right now, architecture and urban planning are at a crossroads: what architectural style are we heading towards? I would suggest that we are heading towards a new baroque, which cannot exist without a pictorial component. The topic is good, and I want to develop it," he believes.

Next is a big conference

Chief architect of SPbGASU Svetlana Bochkareva proposed expanding this cooperation, in particular, in the form of master classes and lectures at various venues.

Yulia Yankovskaya reminded that the exhibition is timed to coincide with the V National (All-Russian) scientific and practical conference with international participation "Reconstruction and Restoration of Architectural Heritage" (RRAH-2025), which will be held at our university on 24-28 March, 2025. Within its framework, a section "Monumental Art in Architecture and Urban Development" is planned, where representatives of a number of architectural and artistic schools of Russia will discuss issues of the synthesis of arts and the features of compositional and artistic training. In addition, a round table "Architecture, Art, Technology - Integration Mechanisms in a Historical City" will be held, where experts will discuss issues of the borderline, on the one hand, and the connecting, on the other, position of a modern architect, capable of building a dialogue with both an artist and modern digital technologies. The organizers of this round table are representatives of SPbGASU, ITMO University and the St Petersburg Academy of Arts.

The exhibition will run until 4 April.