The exhibition “Qatar Contemporary: Art and Photography” is a clear testament to the fact that before us is an ultra-modern state with a prosperous society, an advanced economy, and a preservation of traditional culture. However, rather than simply admiring this successful combination of old and new, it is much more interesting to understand what the East is today, and how it has opened up to the West (within the exhibition). Alexander Valerievich Korolev, docent in the Department of Asian Studies at the Higher School of Economics, will share his opinions on this subject on 29 November at 19:00.

In the exhibition “Qatar Contemporary: Art and Photography” we see how comfortable this country’s contemporary art is in its closeness to medieval norms. However, Qatar at Manege--it is not only a successful example of the synthesis of old and new… it is just as much a meeting of East and West. This art came from the East, it depicts the East, and here in Petersburg, regardless of its “western flavour”, eastern roots can certainly be felt. From the point of few of historical and geographical culture, Russia, Petersburg, Manege--it is, of course, the West, but what we see in “Qatar Contemporary” is a new face of the East. And though this face has gained many western traits, it has maintained its overall eastern expression. But what does this mean? Answering this question will be difficult, especially since its keeper apparently wishes to keep it a secret. It is possible that, in order to do so, one most look at other examples of how the East opened up to the West, and which traces of this can be found in the artistic history.

Alexander Valerievich Korolev is a candidate of philosophical sciences, a senior research fellow at the Russian Institute of Art History (Zubovsky), and instructor of art history in the Department of Asian Studies at the Higher School of Economics.

Entry is free, but registration is required. Before the lecture, we recommend viewing the exhibition “Qatar Contemporary: Art and Photography”.