By Valery Hmarov
The Belarusian Night, or Museum in Fantastic Stories programme, combined marshes and batleika (puppet theatre) at the National Art Museum, recreating nobleman Zavalnia’s medieval market between the hours of 19.00 and 24.00. The courtyard opened to host a summer cafй for its kARToplya project, and a range of entertainments, with guests tasting Belarusian delicacies. Meanwhile, the Potato with Sparks installation brought amusement, as director Oleg Ryzhkov explains. From 20.00 to 01.00, guests were invited to try their hand at folk crafts or painting, while each hall presented its own programme of concerts and theatrical shows.
For the first time this year, the State Museum of Nature and Ecology and the National History Museum, which share a building, worked together to present entertainment. The Museum of Minsk City History organised puzzles, with prizes, while offering a romantic rendezvous over the rooftops of the night city. Its Mikhail Savitsky Art Gallery hosted Physharmonica (early 20th century, Germany): Action and Dance from the Past while the courtyard became a catwalk for 2013/2014 Belarus Fashion Week, accompanied by live music.
The Zair Azgur Memorial Museum-Studio organised its Museum Night from 22.00 to 06.00 under the slogan ‘Art instead of Sleep’ with jazz concerts through the night and screening of avant-garde Czech and American films. Meanwhile, the Modern Fine Arts Museum gave young guests an interactive art show with musical accompaniment; its Street Art Festival coincided with Museum Night.
The Yanka Kupala State Literary Museum offered visitors its PaUlinka PARTY project, encouraging creativity through body-art, embellished with amazing hairstyles, courtesy of professional hairdressers. The event finished with a firework show.
