Its a tale which is being re-told through a powerful new exhibition of drawings and engravings opening at today Darwin College on the life and work of Russian artist Elena Marttilla entitled ‘Art and Endurance in the Siege of Leningrad. She’s a woman who survived the siege against all odds and worked throughout documenting it under probably the most challenging and tragic circumstances ever faced by artists, poets and musicians.
Elena Marttila “Art and Endurance in the Siege of Leningrad” 2017
The artwork was created during the winter of 1941-42 in Leningrad and his to provide a cultural and historic insight into this dark period of the second world war. This project covers one of the most tragic events of WW2 history and ‘the Leningrad blockade’ which took over a million lives. It also marked the artists 94th birthday and celebrates her legacy. The exhibition was launched by Art Historian Larissa Haskell.
The exhibition is curated by Ksenia Afonina, independent curator and researcher into the art of World War II, and Libby Howie, an independent curator with a specialist knowledge of graphic art. This project has been realised with the support of Sotheby’s and in collaboration with The Cambridge Russian-Speaking Society. http://www.camruss.com/en/p
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