Oh my lovely Tallinn

I have returned home this morning from Estonia. Tallinn is so amazing! I stayed in Alur Hostel, which is in the Old Town. (recommend it to everybody who wants to explore the major sites).

Well... I was walking a lot with Jason Mraz singing in my player. And every day I was hanging in small street cafes... We don't have such places here... it's really sad!

I just have no words. Want to cry, because I miss my lovely Tallinn a lot...

Art and Love

Exhibition of Salvador Dali masterpieces was amazing! There were no advertisement in mass media... And it was held in a really strange place, something like bad quality business centre... So at first I thought that it was fake. But it was really Dali!!! And the guide was owner of the collection. He made us laugh while telling about people who wanted to touch sculptures. "Agony of Love" is extremely popular among people who like to touch everything :)

After the excursion I bought book about Dali and Gala. He really adored this woman. And when I was coming back home today I was looking through album with her photos. She wasn't beautiful... It's really a mystery. And Lilia Brick who drove Mayakovsky mad wasn't beautiful... And lover of last russian Tsar Nickolay II Matilda Kshesinskaya wasn't beautiful... It's a phenomenon!!!

Day ended with a brilliant lecture about Edvard Munch, famous norwegian painter. He was really crazy, but I do like some of his works: Madonna, Vampire, Ashes. His style reminds me of Van Gogh. And there is a really close connection between this painters. I mean they have common pr-agent ;))

Night at the museum

It was a great night! And I managed to visit a lot of exhibitions. Most funny was Parade of Hares organized by Avangard Museum. It was the craziest museum this night... There was sound installation of Velemir Khlebnikov poem. In XIX century he was a member of Russian Futurist Movement. And the most beautiful museum was St.Isaac's Cathedral (in the photo). I adore it's decoration! I got really tired this morning... But I'm waiting impatiently for the next Museum Night.

Oh! And I have great news! Today our favourite football team ZENITH won the Cup of Russia! It's great and everybody is celebrating today :)

The Widow of the South

I've finished "The Widow of the South" by Robert Hicks. I've read it in English. Anyway I think it's not translated. It's novel about Civil War in USA. About brave man who holding only the colours run trough the battlefield to enemy's side. And his life was spared. Nobody knew why. He was taken prisoner and later was brought to hospital, which had been set up in house not far from famous Tennesee battlefield.And this man fell in love with owner of the house - Carrie McGavock, who had been already married and had children.

Novel is based on true events. Author found documents, letters, photos belonged to Carrie. Here some of them can be viewed. Story is really amazing not just because of true events. It has some episodes when reader can feel acute tension. Most passionate chapter is one when Carrie is beating her beloved up.

Author made a great work and this novel without any doubt is worthwhile.

And I want to add that reading this book can be compared with walking around the cemetery in sunny summer day. There is a small cemetery near my grandparent's house. And sometimes I like to go there and feel calmness...

In love with Tallin

I like Tallin very much. And after today's lection about this wonderful city I realised that I really want to visit it again. I feel comfortable there... It"consists" of all my favourite places: ancient fortress and towers (like in Pskov), dense building (like here in St.Petersburg), streets like in Lappeenranta, small cafes (like in Vyborg or Stockholm) and nordic atmosphere... It сalls up such associations: cold weather, rain, reflection, pensive, loneliness... Everything is amazing in Tallin for me. And I'm almost praying to get my new international passport this week. Want to travel again.

Roerich and Konchalovsky

Wednesday and Thursday were really full of events. Yesterday I had an excursion to Nicholas Roerich exhibition. I were never interested in his paintings or his biography, but when I visited this really big and full exhibition I decided to read about this wonderful artist. He was a traveller also and liked India very much. He also created Roerich Pact or Treaty on the Protection of Artistic and Scientific Institutions and Historic Monuments. I hold this artist in high respect for such thing and for his philosophy also! His paintings of mountains impressed me. So last night I was watching his masterpieces in the internet and went to bed very late.

No wonder that today I woke up late and had no time to drink coffee. I was trying to read Virginia Woolf while travelling by subway. But I was too sleepy and couldn't understand a word... I had rather interesting lection on Modern Philosophy and I had a really nice walk to the city center.After a cup of coffee there I felt much better and finally woke up.

After that I went to State Russian Museum and had a very interesting excursion to Petr Konchalovsky exhibition. Our guide Alexey Kurbanovsky is an amazing man. I have heard about him before but today I had a chance to listen to him myself. Excursion was rather long but after it I could made my opinion about Konchalovsky. I mean that I visited this exhibition some weeks ago alone. And then I couldn't understand my feelings about his paintings. After our wonderful guide told us that most of Konchalovsky's works were painted under the strong influence of other famous artists (Matisse, Picasso, Van Gogh and others) I realized why I dislike him. It seems to me that he isn't really an artist because almost every picture was painted in someone's manner.

Then I and my friend Mary decided to attend lecture on modern art by Kurbanovsky. I don't like modern art, but I always happy to get new information. And also I got added evidence that lecturer is an amazing narrator. Without any doubt I will attend his next lecture.

I got really tired today. And my foot hurts. I should have a rest tomorrow and stay at home.

More honest

Today was Open Day at Greenpeace Ship "Beluga II". It's very nice eco-friendly river ship built in Germany. With a group of other people I made a tour of it. There we were shown wheelhouse, recycling bins, cabin and kitchen. And when I saw food that crew eat I thought why I can't like Greenpeace much. Of course, they are doing a really great job. But their efforts of saving our Planet seems to me a little bit dissimulative.

A lot of Greenpeace volunteers are not vegan and aren't even vegetarians! Most of them I saw today were in leather boots... They talk about pollution and about waste products, but they don't want to refuse eating meat, eggs, drinking milk. But Meat Factories also produce a lot of waste products! And meat isn't what human really need to eat. And leather isn't what human really need to wear. So it's easy to refuse.

Greenpeace is great organisation, but it can be much better! They should be more honest not with society but with themselves. Only my opinion. And I like you, guys! But maybe try to be animal-friendly?

What I've done

Finally, this week is over. And I've done a lot of interesting things these days. I watched "Thirst" by Park Chan-wook, which I'd really wanted to watch earlier, but could't find time. Well, interesting movie, but maybe too much blood. I don't mind watching bloody thrillers or horrors, but "Thirst" is a psychological love-story (as it seems to me). It should have been less violent.

Also I watched "Kirot" with my favourite Olga Kurylenko. Rather interesting plot, but maybe it's not realistic. I want to say, that it's hard to imagine such story happens in real life. Of course, movie shouln't be realistic! It's only my opinion. "Kirot" is an action thriller and again too much violence...

I attended interesting lections about Soviet movies and about traditional female-gods in slavic mythology. Second one was very very interesting! And I decided to buy some books on this topic, because I have only a little knowledge...

And yesterday I really wanted to have a rest and read a book. But I suddenly got an invitation to the theater and I couldn't refuse! So I went to Alexandrinsky theater and watched french performance "Kazimir and Karolina". It's love story. And I liked it, because it's not too modern and it's clear what is happening on the stage (not like in David Lynche's "Inland Empire" which I rewatched this night).

So this week was full with different events, but left no time for studing and preparing for seminars at the University...

Me and the Moon

I was walking home today when I suddenly saw the Moon. The sky was light blue and the Moon was white. And I remembered my childhood. When I was a child my father told me that small boy and girl eating chocolate can be seen on he Moon. I always thought that the boy should look like Little Prince from Antoine de Saint Exupéry's story.

Today I was walking home and it was really strange to realize that the Moon is still the same, but I'm not.

Book Fair

Today I spent about 5 hours searching for some interesting books at the International Book Fair. There were a lot of books, but most of them were rubbish! I wanted to find Faulkner, but I couldn't...

My friend Kate managed to buy "Stephen Hero" by James Joyce. Some days ago I realised that I wanted to read his "Ulysses". And I ordered it at the internet bookshop. This year Book Fair was rather boring. There weren't any famous authors there... But there were a lot of religious literature... I don't like it.

Also there was Flower Salon in exhibition complex. Very nice! I enjoyed a lot of interesting flower compositions, my favourite garden gnomes and other cute figures...

And after that I found what I really wanted to have. It's "Gone with the wind" by Margaret Mitchell. The book looks like a brick. It's small and very very thick. I'm going to read it soon after I finish another story about Civil War.

Oh! And I bought a lot of lovely postcards! It was a good day :)

Low Rising

It's a fabulous video by my favourite Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova. I think it's a masterpiece.

Monday walk

Today I and my friend Mary went to the excursion to Presidental Library. Before we were let inside we had been checked like at the airport. Our guide looked like Oksana Fyodorova (Miss Universe 2001), but not like scientist. I know that it's very difficult to get a card to this VIP-library. But I realised that access to reading rooms is useless. You aren't allowed to take necessary book and you can look through it only using computer. So it's better to go to other ordinary library.

After this 20-minutes excursion we got outside this unpleasant building and saw a very common for St.Petersburg but very interesting natural phenomenon. One part of the sky were pastoral blue. Another part was dark. And the border was very clear. We went to see New Holland Island, which will be destroyed soon... Although people aren't let to go to the island, it's my favourite place. Huge gates and brick-red buildings are majestic!!! I am addicted to industrial architecture!!!

At the end of our walk Mary showed me second-hand bookshop where I found two postcards kit: reproductions of paintings by Grigory Soroka and Alber Marquet. I like Marquet's style very much. Especially his "St. Trinity Square in Paris" (1911). It's breathtaking view, isn't it?...

Mother's skin, Father's skin...

It was rainy today and really cold. But it couldn't prevent me and my friend Kate from getting new experiences. This morning we were trying to find the former Dutch Church on Nevsky Prospect to see Flower Festival. But we couldn't. Wind was really strong so we decided to have a cup of coffee in the nearest cafe.

Then we went to the Al-Gallery. And watched installation art there. It was an exibition by Vita Buyvid, famous photographer. I like her "Skins of the Bobrovy Family". You can see it on photo. All skins are made of plush and look really nice. As a part of installation there were tv sets. Different women on the screen were repeating: "I'm a bitch", men were complaining: "She is a bitch".

Also there were portraits of families. In the pictures some people were bleeding or had black eyes. Author wanted to show that sometimes we hurt our relatives with words. And wounds we leave in their souls can't be seen. But these wounds are never healed.

Later we attended a lecture about Nabokov. Writer Vyacheslav Kurizin showed some interesting pictures somehow connected with Nabokov's life. And later Kurizin read his "Christmas Story" written in the Nabokov manner. It was interesting because there are few places where prose can be heard.

When I was going home the wind almost blew me away. Weather was really nasty, but it didn't spoil my day.

Involuntary

Yesterday I watched "De ofrivilliga" or "Involuntary" as it's translated in english. It should have been a swedish comedy by Ruben Östlund. But it was the strangest film I have ever seen. There are a lot of heroes in this movie: sincere teacher, stupid school girls, man who hurt his eye with firecracker... All film consists of stories about these people. But they aren't completed! So when the closing credits appeared I understood that I didn't get the main idea of the film... I was disappointed.

As a bonus video short movie "Incedent by a bank" by the same director was shown. It got Golden Bear as Best Short Film in Berlinale in 2010. Östlund tells a story about failed bank robbery, which really took place in 2006. It's interesting because it was filmed without any cut. But I think it's not an Art par excellence!

After the cinema I met my friend Julia. We wanted to attend lecture about USSR movies, but it was postponed to April 27. Unfortunately my cultural thirst wasn't satisfied yesterday...

A new way of Hamlet

Today I watched "Hamlet" in Alexandrinsky Theater. It's new performance. And I think, that the stage director is insane.

The play opened with two two dogs led by two gloomy women. Then Hamlet was brought to the stage. He was dressed in something similar to straitjacket. And later a saucepan appeared on his head. Hamlet's friend Horatio was dressed in jeans and casual shirt. He wore backpack and big headphones. Also there were Donkey and a lot of alcoholics on the stage. In addition to all this madness a mockery was made of famous Hamlet's monologue "To be, or not to be..".

During the play Hamlet carried the imitation pig. He was darting with it around audience and screaming so loud that it seemed to me I got into asylum.

I'm sure that this crazy interpretiation of the play would make Shakespeare turn in his grave...

The Artefact Exhibition

One of the most exciting museum I've ever visited in my life is "Titanic: The Artefact Exhibition" in Madrid. As it's written on its official page the exhibition has ended. And about 100 000 people have seen it.

I think everybody knows this tragic story of the largest passenger steamship. It was going from England to the USA, but it sank in the Atlantic Ocean. As you see the history of the ship has no connection with Madrid. So when I was walking through Plaza de Colon and suddenly saw a poster advertising the exhibition I was deluded...

But I bought a ticket and got a boarding pass. The same as all Titanic passengers were given.

The exhibition opened with history of building the ship. Also the cabins of the first and third class were shown. And a big collection of dishes and other artifacts recovered during the expeditions. Among the things belonged to the passangers were bags, books, jewellery, etc. But the most exciting thing for me was perfume oils set. It's unbeliviable but you can still feel the smell of them!

Horses can read

Film of very talented journalist Alexander Nevzorov "Lectio Equaria Palestra" convinced me that horses almost as clever as we are. Just look at the eyes of these gorgeous animals! Of course, all animals are clever creatures. But I could never imagined that horses can read and understand letters, pictures and teacher's verbal requests.

"L.E.P." is a kind of ancient practice. The main point is that our mind is similar to horse's. Nevzorov proves it in his movie. Small child can't read. He even doesn't know letters. But we can teach a child. And after this film I'm sure that horses can be taught too. Author showes teaching methods he uses. When horse learns a new word, it have to pass a simple test. A picture of something familiar to horse is shown. Animal takes special cards with letters and "writes" the word.

In addition to lessons with horse an exciting story of "L.E.P." is shown in this film. Nevzorov made a great work! And it's a pity that there are only few articles about this practice in the internet. I'm interested in topic and I think I will go to library to find some books about it. I'm really impressed...

How I ended this summer

Have just returned home from the cinema. Movie I watched called "How I ended this summer" by Alexei Popogrebski.

It got 3 Bears at the 60th Berlin International Film Festival this year. Two Silver Bears for best actors: Grigori Dobrygin and Sergei Puskepalis. And one for outstanding artistic achievement in the category camera (Pavel Kostomarov).

Whithout any doubt "How I ended this summer" is thriller, because story keeps viewers in suspence. And it seems to me that script is written in a style reminiscent of Hitchcock's stories. It reminded me of the play "Rope" by Patrick Hamilton. Thriller film with the same name was directed by Hitchcock in 1948.

"How I ended this summer" is story about fear, fib, frienship, lonelyness... My friend Nastya felt sad about the heroes. But for me the last picture said everything about the main theme of movie. Popogrebski filmed a brilliant drama. And it's about hope.

I recommend to watch this movie. It is worth while!

Konnichiwa

With Postcrossing I became really addicted to postcards. And I was happy to find a big pack of them in my closet. Some postcards are from Soviet Past. My city looks really lonely on them... And also I find one very strange card... Rather old too. I think it's korean. And it's called "Jet Coaster". I guess it's name of the park amusement these cloned people are riding. It seems to me that they are from Utopia. Weird picture...

And this postcard is from Japan. My Japanese teacher gave it to me when I was at school. I don't know if it's a boy or a girl and who author is. But colours and atmosphere of picture are amazing. Very warm. Can this child be hero of zen koan? He looks so pure!

Starting

What a nice time to start a blog! Being student of mass media communication is good, but not enough. I feel that I've been journalist all my life and my previous lives too. Carry my Moleskine everywhere and write, write, write... Writing, reporting, creating stories, drawing weird pictures always gives me pleasure. I'm sure that making interview with celebrities or other boring things isn't what I really want to do. So... ta-da.... this wonderful night I'm starting my blog!!!

WELCOME!