The "Movement" showcases the Belarusian visual arts movement and contributes to the revival, development and promotion of its best traditions and achievements. The exhibition features works by both young and well-known Belarusian artists from Minsk and other regions of Belarus, actively engaged in conceptual art, as well as avant-garde paintings of the 1980s and early 1990s from the collection of the Belarusian Union of Artists.

Ms Aksana Knizhnikava, Director General of the National Library of Belarus, opened the event with a welcome speech. She spoke about the main idea of the I Triennal "Concept" art festival and expressed the hope that visitors will enjoy both the works of art and the book exhibition on the Belarusian avant-garde prepared by the National Library.

Ms Natalia Sharanhovich, First Deputy Chairperson of the Belarusian Union of Artists, art historian stressed the uniqueness of the project presented: "This is the first time we are gathering part of the collection of works by the Belarusian Union of Artists from the late 1980s and early 1990s. Among the paintings, there are works of classics of the Belarusian avant-garde – Mikalaj Seliashchuk, Israil Basau, Liudmila Rusava. The exhibition will be of interest to visitors of the Library and the cultural community of Minsk – it allows to see how the Belarusian avant-garde art was born and how it has influenced modern design projects of the artists.”

Mr Andrej Basalyha, Deputy Chairperson of the Belarusian Union of Artists for creative work, noted that the history of the Belarusian avant-garde is more than 100 years old. "For art, 100 years is just one day. During this period, the artists' outlook has changed drastically, so the contemporary viewer should be prepared for a profound impression of a new level of art."

Ms Larysa Finkielshtajn, art historian, art critic, art director of the "Brama" art gallery, member of the Belarusian Union of Artists and the Belarusian Union of Designers, thanked contemporary artists and organizers of conceptual art projects and art festivals, supporting the previous speaker's opinion that Belarusian art will live on for centuries and millennia to come.

The exhibition will showcase experiments with colour, light and a play with meanings and contents that will surprise viewers in the paintings, graphics, photography and design projects of contemporary artists. The works of the classics of the Belarusian avant-garde will energetically demonstrate an individual, subjective view of artistic tasks, blurring the boundaries between portrait, landscape, still life and composition.

The organizers of the exhibition are the National Library of Belarus and the Belarusian Union of Artists.

The exhibition is on display in the Atrium and Labyrinth Galleries (3^rd floor) until February 10, 2022.
The end date is subject to change.