On the occasion of celebrating the 70th anniversary of the victory of Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, “Victory: 1945-2015! – Russian Fine Arts Works Exhibition to Commemorate 70th Anniversary of Victory of World Anti-Fascist War” was inaugurated on August 26 in the National Art Museum of China. Jointly sponsored by NAMOC and Russian National Museum, the activity was arranged under high attention of the culture ministries of China and Russia. The opening ceremony was held in a solemn atmosphere. All the people stood up, saluting to the national anthems of China and Russia in the NAMOC hall.

Chinese deputy vice-minister Ding Wei, Russian ambassador to China H.E. Mr. Andrey Denisov cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony. H.E. Mr. Andrey Denisov, NAMOC curator Wu Weishan, Central Academy of Fine Arts professor Shao Dazhen, and Russian State Tretyakov Gallery Collection department chief Tatiana Groutgova delivered speeches at the ceremony. The ceremony was chaired by NAMOC deputy curator An Yuanyuan.

The exhibition put on show 76 pieces of classic works collected in 12 major Russian art institutions on the theme of anti-fascist war. They are renowned works made by generations of excellent Russian artists. It was the first time to exhibit these Russian anti-fascist war fine arts works in such a large scale in China. It aimed to unfold, in the form of fine arts works, the epic of major battles in the Soviet Unions’ Great Patriotic War Against Nazi Germany and the heroic people, and fully reflect the indomitable, brave fight of the Russian people to defend the integrity of its territories. The exhibition also mirrored the longing of Chinese and Russian people for world peace, and reminded people to remember history, cherish the memory of revolutionary martyrs, treasure peace and create the future.

NAMOC launched strict academic studies of these works to better show their deep connotations. Under the general theme of “Victory: 1945-2015!”, the exhibition was separated into the six parts of “War and Resistance”, “Victory Days”, “Eventful Years”, “Legends and Feats”, “Reminiscence and Recollection” and “Eternal Memory”. The sculptures shown in the exhibition were equally inspiring. The sculpture The Motherland Calls was produced in memory of the Battle of Stalingrad. Located in the Mamayev Mountain in Volgograd, Russia, the sculpture was designed by sculptor Yevgeny Vuchetich and structure engineer Nikolai Nikitin to manifest the spirit and conviction of the Soviet people complying with the call of the motherland in the Great Patriotic War, fighting bravely and eventually defeating fascism.

The successful staging of the exhibition provided Chinese audiences a rare opportunity to appreciate at close range classic works in Russian art history, while gave an index to the extraordinary contribution of Russian army and people for the victory of world anti-fascist war. It unfolded the firm confidence of Chinese and Russian people treasuring history and loving peace.

When the exhibition ended, it would be put on an itinerant exhibition in Hubei Provincial Museum and Jiangsu Provincial Art Museum.