"Open Bashkortostan" photo exhibition is launched at Vystavochnaya station in Moscow

UFA, 22 December 2016. /Bashinform News Agency, Leila Aralbaeva/. A large-scale photo exhibition about Bashkortostan opened in Moscow "Metro" gallery at Vystavochnaya station, which brought together the most picturesque images of photographers from six countries - Russia, Italy, India, Iran, Kazakhstan and Turkey. Its opening was accompanied by a spectacular hour-and-a-half ethnic music concert "Kurai Celebration " performed by the National Orchestra of Folk Instruments RB and the "Argymak" ethno-rock band from Ufa. The event became a part of a bright two-day presentation of the tourist potential of our republic in Moscow.

On the eve of the exhibition opening a conference hall of the Plenipotentiary Representative Office of Bashkortostan Republic under the President of the Russian Federation in Moscow hosted a presentation of tourist clusters, resorts and ski centres of the republic for tour operators and travel agencies in Moscow. On the second day, December 20, Muscovites were able to feel the full flavour of the republic at the "Metro" art gallery.

The "Moscow Metro" SUE does not accidentally grant Bashkortostan with such an exclusive venue in the year of the 85th anniversary of Moscow Metrostroi. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the "Open Bashkortostan" photo exhibition, the First Deputy "Moscow Metro" State Unitary Enterprise Dmitry Doschatov reminded that it was because in 1933-35, at the beginning of the first subway construction, the biggest one five-thousandth detachment of volunteers arrived in the capital from the Bashkir village of Nikolo-Berezovka and surrounding villages. In particular, in the first six months of subway construction every sixth builder was from Bashkiria, and in total number involved in the construction of the first metro line - every 15th. They worked in extremely difficult conditions of manual labour at the construction of the first stations - "Sokolniki", "Komsomolskaya", "Krasnye Vorota", "Krasnoselskaya" and others. The guests of the opening were representatives of the National Policy and Interregional Relations of Moscow Department, Russian regions, photographers, artists, and journalists.

Most of the works included in the exhibition are photos of participants of the "Nature. Human. Culture" contest held annually in the republic with the participation of foreign photographers. The contest was announced in August of this year, it was attended by about 50 professional and amateur photographers. 200 photo-works selected by the jury in the first stage were posted on the website of the "Komsomolskaya Pravda" newspaper and had one-month online voting. The members of the so-called the VIP-jury - "stars" of culture, sports and art born or grew up in Bashkortostan - the master of "Moscow Virtuosos" Vladimir Spivakov, singer Yuri Shevchuk, the only Russian driver in "Formula 1" Daniil Kvyat, the famed gymnast Laysan Utiasheva, the legendary Bashkir saxophonist Marat Yuldybaev, one of the creators of the "Masha and the Bear" popular cartoon Vladislav Bairamgulov, director of the Rainmaker Entertainment Animation Company from Canada Alexander Segal helped to select the best works. The honourary head of the jury was the chairman of the Union of Photographers of Russia, the famous cosmonaut Yuri Baturin. The winners of the photo contest were the authors of works gained the maximum number of votes in the Internet voting - Ramil Kilmamatov and Andrey Pestretsov from Ufa, Oleg Mashkovsky from Sterlitamak. Diplomas to the winners were awarded by the secretary of the Union of Photographers of Russia Dmitry Ivanov. Three foreign photographers - Michele Giorgio (Italy), Hadi Navid (Iran) and Bani Prakash Chandra (India) were marked with special letters of appreciation. The exhibition is open to visitors during one month before January 20.