DEAR FRIENDS!

Gallery of Modern Sculpture and Plastic Arts is a private project which I established thanks to my friends and colleagues’ support.

Of course if we talk about a gallery, we mean trading above all. But there is world practice when a gallery (or exhibition hall) makes its mission in cultural aspect more global tasks then business success.

Sculpture, unlike painting or graphic, needs special treat! Exposure area should be larger, light should be better, and every time we find specific stands for every work. And of course we should say about four-sides and at a “right” angle photography! And it is necessary to bring sculptures and to dispose it, and then to change the position several times while the composition is perfect. It is very exciting, but troublesome. Perhaps that is why we are the first in the city who specialize in sculpture exhibiting. Of course we gave painting and graphics, but they are just additions to sculpture. 

ART AND AESTHETIC DEVELOPMENT
My idea is a gallery where people become acquainted with modern sculpture and graphics art. It is the priority task. This is the gallery where you can find esthetic pleasure and enjoy works of art. Even if we talk about selling sculpture, I think, before you should visit some exhibitions to understand what is closer to you, what you like and what you want to have in your collection, in your garden, at home or in the yard.… Sometimes you cannot make your personal opinion about it in one day: you need time for it, you need to visit some exhibitions. Then you will understand what you like and what leaves you untouched.

OUR CITY DECORATION
I leave open the possibility to decorate the yards and gardens of St. Petersburg, not only private territories, but also public. And one needs some kind of cultural push for it when everyone understands that buildings themselves (especially new constructions) do not have cultural factor! Our yards should have not only children’s playground among their facilities. I suggest paying attention to people of other ages. Before we said “a house with three graces” or “a bridge with lions” and what about now??? It is high time to return the idea of peculiarity or individuality of every yard, garden or street. I think that the next task after public and cultural and educational is the decoration of our city. But the statement “art and aesthetic development” is closer to me.

ABOUT PRIVATE COLLECTIONS
Now I want to say a word about private collections. It is a specific world. Sculpture is rarely collected, but sometimes we can see collections of small-scale sculpture. Usually it is bronze, more seldom it is stone (granite, sandstone and others). There are so called village sculptures, usually these are wooden dwarf, bears, wolfs and so on. Such works are usually used for decoration a yard or a garden, and do not relate to collecting. I think that the interest of private collectors to nontrivial works and serious sculpture deepens step by step. It deepens together with architectural taste and financial possibilities, of course. One can see it in new private houses and interiors. Let’s not pay attention to the economical crisis outside, because it is not permanent and sometimes it can be wrong criteria. Drop in sales on art-marker gives collectors an opportunity to value pieces of art and to choose carefully like they do before the crisis sometimes. It is high time to buy one really serious work instead of ten dwarfs, eight bears on a bench and under a bench and three cats. And I have a lot to offer for serious collections and for good investment.

Sophia Kasim,
Sculpture Gallery Director