Exhibition From Lisbon through Minsk, Moscow, Astana, to Vladivostok initiated by Embassy of Belarus in France

17 апреля 2018

By Olga Davydovich: An ambitious creative experiment was presented in the Portuguese capital. An exhibition From Lisbon through Minsk, Moscow, Astana, to Vladivostok was initiated by the Embassy of Belarus in France and is held under the auspices of UNESCO. The Belarusian capital, which in recent years has become one of the most active negotiating platforms for the settlement of international conflicts in Europe, has now assumed the role of the centre of cultural diplomacy.

The goal of the art project is to emphasize the unifying power of art in the modern world. The idea of the exhibition emerged in a difficult period of escalating social and political tensions. The name of the project is a quote from Charles de Gaulle’s legendary speech about the concept of Greater Europe which he delivered in Strasbourg in 1959.

The exhibition is held under the auspices of UNESCO, which stresses its international humanitarian significance. The uniqueness of the project is that for the first time Minsk has acted as the centre of unity for representatives of contemporary art in Europe. The authors of the project are the winner of the State Prize of Belarus – Professor Viktor Alshevsky, and the Ambassador of Belarus in France, Portugal, Spain, and Monaco – Pavel Latushko.

Pavel Latushko, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to France with concurrent accreditation to Spain, Portugal, and Monaco:

“This exhibition is about multiculturalism – the key principle of UNESCO, the leading global organization that is engaged in cooperation in the sphere of culture, education, and information. The project highlights that we are different, yet we are together. It is not about contradictions; rather it is about what we have in common. It is very symbolic that thanks to this project Minsk has become the place that brings together representatives of different cultures and different peoples.”

The opening of the exhibition in Lisbon was a great success. The ceremony was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Portugal, representatives of the leadership of the biggest Portuguese institutions and organizations, diplomatic circles, and the Belarusian diaspora.

The event was attended by artists who presented their work as well. This underscored once again the international humanitarian significance of the project. The capital of Portugal was represented by Luis Rodríguez. Earlier, the symbolist artist had already visited the opening of the exhibition in Minsk.