Exhibition of famous book illustrations by Akseli Gallen-Kallela (Kalevala) and Elena Polenova (Russian folk tales). The exhibition could be done in different modes (real illustrations, high-quality posters or online). The mode of the exhibition depends on various aspects, but mainly on state funding.
Main partners: Polenov Museum and National Park (Polenovo) in the Tula Region and a prospective partner - the house-museum of Akseli Gallen-Kallela in Tarvaspää, Finland.
Venue: Polenovo Museum and Centre of Family History (Polenovo branch).
Elena Polenova (1850 - 1898) was the artist and the sister of the famous Russia artist Vassily Polenov. She was one of the first women in art history of Russian, who did incredible contribution through the new approach through arts, crafts and design. One of the most prominent sides of her was book illustrations and woodcarwing workshops. Her works was at Paris Univesal Expo 1900.
Akseli Gallen-Kallela (1865 -1931) is mostly famous for his illustrations for the epic "Kalevala" (compiled by Elias Lennrot) and first published in 1835. His works are one of the art symbols of the Finnish and Karelian national identity and represent Finland at Paris Universal Expo 1900.
Polenovo Museum and Akseli Gallen-Kallela museum were created at the same time, both houses were designed by the artists themselves. Both families has a strong European connections by the background education and belong to the generations of new enlighteners, creators of national art schools.
The books and book illustration is a very precise media, which could represent the changing world at the turn of the centuries, the new role of universal artist and their contribution to the education and liasons.
Objectives of the project:
- to show the liasons in art history and collection research;
- to draw attention to reading culture and books;
- to create a new educational program for local rural and urban communities;
- to show the polyphony of methods and approaches of arts to ancient traditions.
Target groups:
- family audience of the rural area;
- teens in rural and urban;
- yound adults.

Duration of the project including all stages - 12 month.
Duraion of the exhibition - 6 month.
Possible timetable:
June 2021 - September 2021 (3 month) - introduction, partners meetings, concept, final time table;
September 2021 - November 2021 (3 month)- selection of works, curatorial texts, design production of exhibition, working on educational program together with Finnish experts;
Devember 2021 (1 month) - assembling and opening of the exhibition;
January - April 2022 (4 month) - exhibition + launch educational program;
May 2022 (1 month) - finissage and return of the partners resources.
The implementation of the exhibition depends of funding, but generally we would like to show the books, book illustrations, technologies (linocut, woodblocks), approach of two artists to folk art and finally how the books became so popular.
Educational program will be done in an inclusive, participatory approach, with the regard to age and motivations.
The role and benefit of Russian partner - Polenovo Museum, leading applicant of the project is to implement it and to provide a venue and possible promotion. The benefit is to continue international cooperation on a new level, to serve the local communities with new quality programmes.