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MANEZH AS A MODEL OF MOSCOW. SOMEONE IS LOSING...
26.06.2004
Ekaterina Sultanova, Izvestija (Moscow) via Russian Art Gazette
Ekaterina Sultanova, Izvestija (Moscow) via Russian Art Gazette
Contrary to the city administration's expectations, the past year's loss of Voentorg, Moskva, and Manezh has not yielded a familiarly passive reaction from Moscow's residents. Instead, the loss has produced symbols for what is turning into true fight for the preservation of the capital's historical architecture. Last Thursday, a group of foreign journalists, gathered in the Sh'usev Architecture Museum, announced its mission to keep a public record of every violation of the city's historical image. That evening, a "farewell" ceremony took place by the demolished Voentorg building, bemoaning the loss of the "Old Moscow." The initiators of the action were the city's residents themselves.
"Everyone has to confess, including Yuri Luzhkov and Vladimir Putin"
A petition, addressed to the city administration, the country's president and his cabinet, calling for an end to the destruction of Old Moscow (the letter was published by Izvestiia on April 15th) was even signed by foreigners. Representatives of foreign media, living and working in Moscow, have created an alternative to the All-Russian Society for the Protection of Monuments – the Moscow Architecture Preservation Society (MAPS).
"We want to give more publicity to the to the problem of preservation of Moscow's architecture," says one of the creators of MAPS, Moscow Times correspondent Kevin O'Flynn, "We are going to talk about it in our publications, arousing the attention of not only the Russian government, but also the world."
Kevin is a British citizen. He has been living in Moscow for the past eight years and has personally witnessed the changes that have taken place. When asked by our correspondent whether such problems exist in his home country, he reacts passionately:
"Of course! Our situation is far from perfect, but whenever the danger of a monument being destroyed arises, it is immediately reported in newspapers, often on the front pages. This is more difficult in Russia. The government here doesn't pay as much attention to public opinion, but the more we talk about the problem, the faster it will be resolved. As a journalist, I can do something to preserve the city in which I currently live and whose fate I am not indifferent to. After all, at some point they will have to hear us."
MAPS already has the support of UNESCO and the World Monuments Fund. Its first public action was the meeting held between foreign journalists and the authors of the open letter mentioned earlier.
"Support from the media is our last resort," claims Aleksei Klimenko, an architecture historian.
Indeed, many of those gathered on Thursday admitted their personal helplessness to change anything.
"As a former manager in the field, I can say that local voices aren't always heard," says the former chairman of Gosstroi (the national construction company) Anvar Shamufazarov, who once opposed building projects underneath the Bolshoi Theatre, "Even we, the power-holding officials, could not do anything about it. And we must confess this. However, everyone else has to confess too, including Yuri Luzhkov and Vladimir Putin. It was two hundred meters away from his building that the Manezh was set on fire on the day of his election. Perhaps, you will be able to reach those who make the decisions."
Aleksei Batalov, an art expert, also hopes that the capital's, as well as the country's administrations will hear out the foreign press:
"They have more freedom. Our media cannot always openly criticize their government, or even the city administration."
More skeptical to the new idea was the director of the Arts Institute, Aleksei Komech:
"I don't believe that the publications in the media will have any impact on those in power," says one who, for many years, has tried to break through the wall of indifference and lack of understanding, "There are too few of us. Nevertheless, I am willing to work with MAPS and report every violation of the old city."
"This was the Moscow in which I was born"
Yet, perhaps, Komech may be wrong, thinking that the protection of Moscow's architectural is an individual endeavor. Today, beneath the letter pleading for the protection of old Moscow stand nearly three thousand signatures, and Thursday night hundreds of people came out to light candles in memory of the Voentorg.
The creators of the website Moskva, kotoroy net ("The Moscow, which is no more," moskva.kotoroy.net) wanted to avoid a crowd. The plan was as follows: on May 27th, from 21:15 to 21:45, everyone who, "no longer wanted to ignore the destruction of our city and our spirit," would come to Vozdvizhenka and leave a lighted candle or flowers by the demolished building of the Voentorg. No demonstrations – "our crowd will be our candles."
Yet, people came and stayed. On the opposite side of the street, a curious crowd gathered. In thirty minutes, over two hundred candles had been lit, not to mention the mass of flowers. Also notes – some nostalgic: "This was the Moscow in which I was born," "Farewell, Voentorg. We will remember you," "Without the past, there is no future." Some determined – "Watch out, Luzhkov! This is only the beginning." One of the carnations was accompanied by a note on grid paper, "To Voentorg from Riga."
"We had to come out and state our opinion," say the young architects of Mosproekt-1.
"It's not just about the Voentorg," says Daria, an arts history major, "At work, we all collected signatures in support of this cause."
"I'm not part of any architectural or arts circles. I just love Moscow and that's why I came," explains Anya – another member of the crowd.
Once in a while, someone would come and relight the dying flames. By half past eleven, the candles still burned.
This text in Russian
Translation – Andrei Tolstoi
Links:
The Moscow Architecture Preservation Society (MAPS) (Moscow)
Kevin O'Flynn's series of articles "Tearing Down Moscow" in The Moscow Times
IRINA TITOVA. A group of foreign journalists working in Moscow on Thursday announced the creation of a group aimed to preserve the many architectural treasures and raise awareness about what they say is the fast-paced destruction of a history that took centuries. // Associated Press, 31 May, 2004
Valeria Korchagina. City Says Manezh Can't Be Restored // The Moscow Times
Historic building policy slammed // Agence France-Presse, 27.05.2004
Borislav Mikhailichenko. Architectural Landmarks Slated for Privatization // The Moscow News
Kevin O'Flynn. Angry Architects Lobby Putin // The Moscow News, 27.04.2004
How Moscow's reconstruction is putting profit before preservation // News.Independent.co.uk, 27.04.2004
Print version
"Everyone has to confess, including Yuri Luzhkov and Vladimir Putin"
A petition, addressed to the city administration, the country's president and his cabinet, calling for an end to the destruction of Old Moscow (the letter was published by Izvestiia on April 15th) was even signed by foreigners. Representatives of foreign media, living and working in Moscow, have created an alternative to the All-Russian Society for the Protection of Monuments – the Moscow Architecture Preservation Society (MAPS).
"We want to give more publicity to the to the problem of preservation of Moscow's architecture," says one of the creators of MAPS, Moscow Times correspondent Kevin O'Flynn, "We are going to talk about it in our publications, arousing the attention of not only the Russian government, but also the world."
Kevin is a British citizen. He has been living in Moscow for the past eight years and has personally witnessed the changes that have taken place. When asked by our correspondent whether such problems exist in his home country, he reacts passionately:
"Of course! Our situation is far from perfect, but whenever the danger of a monument being destroyed arises, it is immediately reported in newspapers, often on the front pages. This is more difficult in Russia. The government here doesn't pay as much attention to public opinion, but the more we talk about the problem, the faster it will be resolved. As a journalist, I can do something to preserve the city in which I currently live and whose fate I am not indifferent to. After all, at some point they will have to hear us."
MAPS already has the support of UNESCO and the World Monuments Fund. Its first public action was the meeting held between foreign journalists and the authors of the open letter mentioned earlier.
"Support from the media is our last resort," claims Aleksei Klimenko, an architecture historian.
Indeed, many of those gathered on Thursday admitted their personal helplessness to change anything.
"As a former manager in the field, I can say that local voices aren't always heard," says the former chairman of Gosstroi (the national construction company) Anvar Shamufazarov, who once opposed building projects underneath the Bolshoi Theatre, "Even we, the power-holding officials, could not do anything about it. And we must confess this. However, everyone else has to confess too, including Yuri Luzhkov and Vladimir Putin. It was two hundred meters away from his building that the Manezh was set on fire on the day of his election. Perhaps, you will be able to reach those who make the decisions."
Aleksei Batalov, an art expert, also hopes that the capital's, as well as the country's administrations will hear out the foreign press:
"They have more freedom. Our media cannot always openly criticize their government, or even the city administration."
More skeptical to the new idea was the director of the Arts Institute, Aleksei Komech:
"I don't believe that the publications in the media will have any impact on those in power," says one who, for many years, has tried to break through the wall of indifference and lack of understanding, "There are too few of us. Nevertheless, I am willing to work with MAPS and report every violation of the old city."
"This was the Moscow in which I was born"
Yet, perhaps, Komech may be wrong, thinking that the protection of Moscow's architectural is an individual endeavor. Today, beneath the letter pleading for the protection of old Moscow stand nearly three thousand signatures, and Thursday night hundreds of people came out to light candles in memory of the Voentorg.
The creators of the website Moskva, kotoroy net ("The Moscow, which is no more," moskva.kotoroy.net) wanted to avoid a crowd. The plan was as follows: on May 27th, from 21:15 to 21:45, everyone who, "no longer wanted to ignore the destruction of our city and our spirit," would come to Vozdvizhenka and leave a lighted candle or flowers by the demolished building of the Voentorg. No demonstrations – "our crowd will be our candles."
Yet, people came and stayed. On the opposite side of the street, a curious crowd gathered. In thirty minutes, over two hundred candles had been lit, not to mention the mass of flowers. Also notes – some nostalgic: "This was the Moscow in which I was born," "Farewell, Voentorg. We will remember you," "Without the past, there is no future." Some determined – "Watch out, Luzhkov! This is only the beginning." One of the carnations was accompanied by a note on grid paper, "To Voentorg from Riga."
"We had to come out and state our opinion," say the young architects of Mosproekt-1.
"It's not just about the Voentorg," says Daria, an arts history major, "At work, we all collected signatures in support of this cause."
"I'm not part of any architectural or arts circles. I just love Moscow and that's why I came," explains Anya – another member of the crowd.
Once in a while, someone would come and relight the dying flames. By half past eleven, the candles still burned.
This text in Russian
Translation – Andrei Tolstoi
Links:
The Moscow Architecture Preservation Society (MAPS) (Moscow)
Kevin O'Flynn's series of articles "Tearing Down Moscow" in The Moscow Times
IRINA TITOVA. A group of foreign journalists working in Moscow on Thursday announced the creation of a group aimed to preserve the many architectural treasures and raise awareness about what they say is the fast-paced destruction of a history that took centuries. // Associated Press, 31 May, 2004
Valeria Korchagina. City Says Manezh Can't Be Restored // The Moscow Times
Historic building policy slammed // Agence France-Presse, 27.05.2004
Borislav Mikhailichenko. Architectural Landmarks Slated for Privatization // The Moscow News
Kevin O'Flynn. Angry Architects Lobby Putin // The Moscow News, 27.04.2004
How Moscow's reconstruction is putting profit before preservation // News.Independent.co.uk, 27.04.2004
Print version
