TEHRAN- An international art festival titled “The Role of Friendship” will be held next month to expand the artistic and cultural relations between Iran and Russia.

Organized in memory of the Russian painter Sergey Andriaka who passed away in May, the festival will serve as a bridge between the two rich and ancient cultures, ISNA reported.

It will provide an opportunity for the artists of the two nations to share their views and interpretations of each other's culture and civilization through the universal language of art.

The festival has announced the call for submission of artworks, paintings and photos, and the enthusiasts can register and submit their works to the festival website at Iirusart.ru. 

The festival jury will select 100 works by Iranian artists and 100 works by Russian artists and the winners will be awarded cash and non-cash rewards. All the 200 works will be showcased in exhibitions held in Iran and Russia.

The event is organized by the Embassy of Iran in Moscow, in cooperation with the Academy of Watercolor and Fine Arts of Sergey Andriaka in Moscow, which will host the Iranian and Russian artworks from August 10. After the exhibition is over in Russia, the works will be showcased at an exhibition in Tehran to Iranian audience.

Sergey Andriaka (1958-2024) was a watercolor artist. He is known as one of the leading masters of modern watercolor painting. The artist began the creative activity with oil paints, gouache, and tempera. He was engaged in mosaics, stained-glass windows, etching, and signature on porcelain and enamel. His acquaintance with the cultural heritage of Western Europe has played just as important a role. However, his favorite technique was always watercolor painting.

The Academy of Watercolor and Fine Arts of Sergey Andriaka was founded in 2002. It is the first institution in Russia that provides an educational program “Painting and Fine Arts”. Along with learning thoroughly the art of drawing and painting, which is essential for every professional artist, students try different techniques and types of fine art including watercolor, tempera and oil painting, pastel, etchings, monumental painting, stained glass, Roman and Florentine mosaic, sgraffito, sculpture, ceramics, pottery, porcelain modeling, porcelain and ceramics painting, enamel miniatures, jewelry, book illustrations, etc. 

The academy has many exhibition spaces as well as one of the few Museums of Watercolor in Russia. The former presents the visitor with a unique collection of masterpieces, watercolors, drawings, and book illustrations made by Russian and European artists.

SS/SAB