Prokopyevsk Birch Bark Exhibition

About exhibition

The subjects and motifs of the works by the masters of 'Prokopyevsk birch bark' are extremely diverse: the exuberance of taiga life, pagan mythology, Bashkir and Shor national traditions, Russian festive customs, ironic playful forms, historical images, and philosophical reflections. Yet, despite the various individual approaches of the artists, the masters' works are united by common artistic and technical methods in working with birch bark and by the perception of birch bark as a living, malleable material. The distinctiveness of the Prokopyevsk masters lies in the fact that the object of their creativity — an ancient Russian craft — is not used for small-scale cottage production, but is elevated to the level of high artistic mastery. While preserving the traditions of birch-bark carving, the artists also develop the craft in a contemporary context, introducing into it elements that were previously uncharacteristic and unusual.