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As I was happily simmering, immersed in the creature
comforts of Air Aeroflot, Russia’s flag carrier, I pondered to
myself the events that brought me to this juncture. I still
couldn’t believe I was bound for Russia in October 1985. Russia,
archrival of the mighty United States back then and still officially
communist was in impenetrable vision. It was an iron-clad reality
mysterious in its Spartan reputation and I was heading right toward
it.
It was only when we embarked in a
snow laden runway did I realize how could it was. In spite of the
two sweaters and winter coat I was wearing, I found it was hardly
enough to keep me from shivering. Yes Virginia, I was in Moscow, the
capital of Russia.
It was a 12-hour trip but not
enough to distract my mind from thinking about the 36 artworks that
I brought for a show at the Russian Friendship House. At the time,
it wasn’t easy to be invited in Russia so when the First Secretary
and Cultural Attaché of the Russian Embassy, Mr. Zaouri Tsikolia,
gave me an invitation to visit and exhibit in Russia through the
Philippine Russian Friendship Society, I readily accepted.
To my surprise, I was informed
the former first lady Imelda Marcos (who was also visiting at the
time) was the guest of honor. She was given a very warm welcome and
the opening was graced by Soviet government officials, members of
the Soviet Artists’ Union, professors and students from art
schools. Because of these, I received reams of publicity from their
print media and primetime exposure for television coverage.
After the show, my art program
included a visit to a 38-hectare trade fair complex with a male
Russian guide who is very fluent in English and Filipino. The place
housed exhibits on agriculture, computers and scale models of
nuclear equipment. My itinerary also included visits to other
related locations, art schools, public galleries and museums.
The art environment in Russia was
very much alive and flourishing. Most artists were residents of the
Artists’ Union. Some of them were subsidized by the government and
were provided with art studios, art materials, travel grants and art
exhibitions.
There were no starving artists in
Russia. They were equally accorded the same stellar treatment so
that no artist was more popular than the other. Art students were
given a free six years schooling, the first four spent on basic
drawings on monumental arts. The last two were concentrated toward
academics and foreign languages. The city had so many monuments on
war memorials. It was not uncommon to see young children laying
flowers at the statue of Lenin. Even couples about to be married
offered flowers to the monument of unknown soldiers. Sculptors never
go hungry in Russia.
As a farewell gesture, I gave my
guide a ream of cigarettes which I bought at Bangkok duty free
shops. He was reluctant to accept it at first adding that he was
just happy to do his job. I think that’s true with the Russians.
They’re said to refuse gifts though they love exchanging pins with
visitors.
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