The exhibition "Eternal Baroque: from the 17th to the 21st century" is on view at the Arsenal in Nizhny Novgorod, the Volga-Vyatka department of the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts. The project explores the connection between the artistic motifs of the 17th–18th centuries and contemporary art. The exhibition brings together works that appeal to the five human senses — sight, taste, hearing, touch, and smell — allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the imagery and atmosphere of the Baroque era.
Baroque is a major artistic style that originated in Italy at the end of the 16th century, known for its dramatic expressiveness, monumental compositions, complex ideas and rich decorative detail. It is no coincidence that the Italian word barocco translates as “ornate” or “strange.”
The exhibition is conceived as a dialogue between eras: within one space, visitors can encounter masterpieces by great artists of the past — including Rembrandt, Jan van Bijlert, Anthony van Dyck, Giuseppe Galli Bibiena and Stefano della Bella — alongside works by contemporary Russian artists inspired by baroque aesthetics.
“Our exhibition is not a dry reproduction of encyclopedia pages from art history. Understanding that it is impossible to fully explain such a monumental phenomenon as Baroque, we aimed to create an atmospheric and visually engaging immersion into one of the most complex eras to comprehend. We hope this will allow any visitor to become interested in the culture of the 17th–18th centuries, to look at contemporary art and its connection to history in a new way, to navigate the features of Baroque aesthetics and to experience the impact of art through all the senses,” — says Daria Kolpashnikova, PhD in Art History and curator of the exhibition.
Among the participants are Anna Nova Gallery artists Uldus Bakhtiozina and Fedor Hiroshige. Also featured in the exhibition are Valery Katsuba and Ustina Yakovleva.
The project “Eternal Baroque: from the 17th to the 21st Century” will be on view until March 29.
Learn more about the exhibition: https://arsenal-museum.art/2025/vysta...
