On December 4, Polina Streltsova, research scholar at the Shchusev State Museum of Architecture, will give an online lecture titled “Ivan Leonidov. Dreams of a City of the Sun”.

During the session, we will examine the genesis and development of Soviet architect Ivan Ilich Leonidov’s artistic individuality and discuss his “City of the Sun”conceptual project.

At the very start of his career, Ivan Leonidov’s work set the tone for the development of modernism both in Russia and abroad. He worked intensively his entire life, and believed in the noble mission of architects and architecture, the art that organises human life and is capable of changing it. In the hellish war years, Leonidov began work on his “City of the Sun”, which amassed within itself all of the artist’s professional quests of the previous decades and became somewhat of a summary of his many years of work.

“City of the Sun” can be classed as an architectural utopia, although Leonidov never thought of it as an impossible project destined to remain only on paper. The architect was of the opinion that his ideal, magnificent city should give rise to a powerful creative force, capable of helping to overcome discord between people and facilitate the establishment of a world where everyone flourishes.

About the speaker: Polina Streltsova is a research scholar at the Shchusev State Museum of Architecture, head of the Soviet graphic art section, and exhibition department expert.

This meeting is part of Manege’s supplementary programme to “Utopia Saved”.

The online lecture will begin at 18:30 and last for 1.5 hours.

The discussion will be conducted over Zoom. Participation is free, but you must first register and install the Zoom platform. An hour before the meeting, you will receive a link by e-mail (sent to the address indicated at registration) through which you can join the conference. You will be able to address questions to Polina throughout the conversation.

You can watch this lecture on our YouTube channel.