The wonderful Museum of Russian Everyday Life "Po Susekam" is located in the lower chamber (podklet) of the 17th-century Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker on Bersenevka. The site on which the church was built has long been occupied by ecclesiastical buildings. During the fire of 1812 the church burned, after which it was restored and reconsecrated. The last major restoration of the church took place in the 1970s. The church is executed in the style of "Russian ornamentation," richly decorated with architectural elements and belongs to a new type of Moscow church of the mid-17th century.
Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker on Bersenevka. Photo: molebny.ru
The Museum of Russian Everyday Life opened very recently, at the beginning of 2022. It was created by Elena Tyunyaeva, the former director of the Muzeon Park of Arts. The core of the exhibition is made up of items from her personal collection. The main goal of the project is to give people the opportunity, through tactile contact with objects, to feel the characteristics of Russian everyday life and to sense the connection between times and generations.
Museum director — Elena Tyunyaeva. Photo: posusecam.ru
Rubel and sechka, tuyasok and koryto — words from folk folklore come alive and take shape. The museum is called "hands-on" for a reason — visitors can freely interact with all the exhibits. There are no glass display cases: objects are arranged throughout the museum, and visitors can try them out "in everyday use" — weave a runner on a loom, iron laundry, chop cabbage, grind grain on millstones. And at the end of the tour, taste aromatic samovar tea with baranki.
Photo: posusecam.ru
Photo: posusecam.ru
The museum offers ongoing workshops: a weaving workshop, the "Spindle" workshop teaching wool spinning, a rag-doll making workshop, and themed events. The museum works closely with collectors. Every one and a half months themed exhibitions dedicated to Russian heritage and to contemporary art that continues folk traditions are held. These events complement the main exhibition and allow visitors to view it from a different angle. In addition, the museum regularly hosts lectures and film screenings. Visiting the main exhibition itself will also provide vivid impressions — the interactive display will be remembered by both adults and young visitors.
Photo: posusecam.ru
