At the moment, a flight to Mexico City, where it is currently a sunny 25 degrees Celsius and full of traffic jams, costs 36,000 rubles ($1,327) and takes 17 hours. Don't bother flying, though -- just next week modern Mexico will come to you, tucking itself into buildings all over a different traffic-jammed city despite the weather being close to 25 degrees less.
Contemporary Mexican art, architecture, cinema, literature, music and cuisine will showcase the country in the "Mexico in Moscow" festival, running from Nov. 11 through Dec. 7.
"We are doing this for the Russians, so that they can learn about Mexico, and we can show them what is modern Mexico," said Leonor Pintado, the cultural attache of the Mexican Embassy who has been working on the project for a year. The openings of virtually all of the events will be free for anyone to attend.
"We want everyone to come," says Pintado. "Culture is for everyone."
There are gaps in Russia and Mexico's knowledge of each other today -- hence the festival -- but they are also no strangers.
Russia and Mexico were once allies in spirit as the two began the 20th century with dramatic revolutions. Mexico's revolution came first in 1910, and seven years later when the Russian revolution brought the Bolsheviks to power, the new socialist state was welcomed in Mexico City.
When Leon Trotsky went into exile from the Soviet Union, he wandered from country to country until he was given asylum in Mexico. He lived in Coyacon, near Mexico City, where revolutionary artist Diego Rivera and his wife Frida Kahlo were among his visitors. It was his death, from a blow to the head by an agent of Stalin, that is remembered as one of the most dramatic points in the two countries' relations.
Drama of a different kind made more of an impression on ordinary Russians. Telenovelas, Latin soap operas, arrived in the Soviet Union in the 1970s, and the passionate overacting found an eager audience in Brezhnev's Soviet Union and still do even today. "The Rich Can Cry Too," the biggest of the telenovelas, was so popular that it is said to have ushered in a temporary truce between warring Georgians and Abkhaz so that they could watch the program. When the program was taken off the air in the 1990s, there were demonstrations by angry grandmothers outside the television stations.
However, Pintado laments that Russians today have little or no knowledge of other aspects of Mexican culture.
"We want to update Russians and decided to do it through art, culture and music." The festival spreads Mexican photos, top-class food, architecture, film and music around the city as a way to experience modern Mexico.
The Moscow Modern Museum of Art will be Mexico City during the festival as it hosts "ABCDF: Portraits of Mexico City," a roving dictionary that shows over 200 artists' interpretations of life in the Mexican capital. The exhibit has traveled the world and each time has been personalized for the exhibit to the visiting city.
The Moscow exhibit will include 15 photos and two videos never seen outside of Mexico City. Pintado believes that Muscovites will be able to relate to this exhibit given big-city life in Moscow.
"The ABCDF show talks about the attitude a 21st-century person has in a megalopolis," wrote exhibit curator Jeronimo Hagerman. "This personal point of view can be translated into any big city in the world. There will be some things that are similar and others which are very different."
The exhibit itself is composed of photographs, everyday objects, video and text that provide a window into Mexico City life. "In Mexico, people live their problems with a lot of humor," said Hagerman. "I think this humor is important, and you can see it in the exhibition."
The exhibit shows from Nov. 12 until Dec. 7, with an open presentation by both curators, Hagerman and Cristina Faesler on Nov. 13 at 5 p.m.
Called, "the best chef in Mexico," by Pintado, five-star Diamond Award Chef Martha Ortiz will be preparing her version of Mexican cuisine from Nov. 13 to 16 at Nedalny Vostok.
"We will bring a menu that will represent Mexican cuisine, with some traditional dishes, but updated. For example, guacamole with pomegranate and requeson [a ricotta-like cheese]," Pintado said.
Ortiz will be working her magic in the open-air kitchen at the restaurant accompanied by bartender Ivan Rizo, who, Ortiz has said, understands "the mystic spirit of tequila and mescal."
The restaurant will serve Ortiz's dishes until Nov. 22 unless popular demand keeps them on the menu.
Dishes are expected to cater to Russians, so don't expect it to be Mexican spicy. An appetizer and main dish will cost around 3,000 rubles.
The Schusev State Museum of Architecture will hold an exhibition of 10 contemporary Mexican architects, chosen not necessarily for their popularity but rather for the span of generations that they represent.
"Russians don't realize that Mexico City is the biggest metropolis in the world. These architects are not world stars but local stars," says museum director David Sarkisyan.
The exhibit will feature projections and photos of each work as well as a round table discussion comparing contemporary Russian and Mexican architects, moderated by Sarkisyan. The exhibit is showing from Nov. 12 to Dec. 7, with the round table discussion on Nov. 12 at 1 p.m.
Simultaneously on display in the museum will be a collection by Russian photographer Kirill Ovchinnikov, who traveled to local towns in Mexico documenting the Day of the Dead. The traditional holiday commemorates the transitory return of deceased relatives and loved ones to Earth, for which an altar is built in the home. A typical altar and videos of the festivities will also be on display.
The full cultural portrait is completed by film, music and literature debuts. Showing at the Formula Kino Europe from Nov. 12 to 26 will be six recently released Mexican films, including "Deficit," the directorial debut of Gael Garcia Bernal, star of "Y Tu Mama Tambien" and "The Motorcycle Diaries."
Two books vital to understanding Mexican culture will also be published in Russian for the first time for the festival. "The Wonderful Reality of Mexico in the Russian Perception," an anthology of texts by Russian travelers to Mexico, will be presented at the Oval State Library of Foreign Literature on Nov. 18.
"A New Brief History of Mexico," which Pintado claims every Mexican involved in foreign policy has read, will be presented at the Institute of Latin American on Nov. 20.
Finally, eight young Mexican musicians will perform traditional Mexican music conducted by Antoly Levin at the Rakhmaninov Hall of the Moscow State Conservatory on Nov. 16 at 2 p.m.
In creating this event, Pintado asked herself, "How can I wake up Russians' interest in Mexico?" If the above doesn't do it, nothing will.
Young Mexican Musicians on Nov. 16 at 2 p.m. Rakhmaninov Hall of the Moscow State Conservatory, 11 Bolshaya Nikitskaya Ulitsa. M. Pushkinskaya, Biblioteka Imeni Lenina. 629-9401/7412/8183.
New Mexican Films runs Nov. 12 to 26. Formula Kino Europe, Evropeisky shopping mall, Ploshchad Kievskogo Vokzala 2. M. Kievskaya. 795-3795. Horizont Cinema, Komsomolsky Prospect, 21/10 M. Fruzenskaya. 795 3795
Mexican Cuisine of Martha Ortiz is Nov. 13 to 20. Nedalny Vostok, Tverskoi Bulvar, 15/2. M. Pushkinskaya. 694 0641.
Mexican Contemporary Architecture Photography, "Mexico: Day of the Dead... Celebration of Life" runs Nov. 12 to Dec. 7. Round Table Discussion (Architecture) on Nov. 12 at 1 p.m. The Schusev State Museum of Architecture. Ulitsa Vozdvizhenka 5. M. Biblioteka Lenina, Arbatskaya, Aleksandrovsky Sad. Open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., closed Mondays. Cost 100 rubles Opening on Nov. 12 at 17 p.m. (Architecture) and 8 p.m. (Day of the Dead). 107-9074.
"ABCDF: Portraits of Mexico City" runs Nov. 12 to Dec. 7. Open lecture on Nov. 13 at 5 p.m. Moscow Museum of Modern Art, Gogolevsky Bulvar 10, M. Kropotkinskaya. Open 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Closed Nov. 30. 694 2890 www.mmoma.ru.
Book Presentations:
"A New Brief History of Mexico" on Nov. 20 at 5 p.m. Institute of Latin America, Ulitsa Bolshaya Ordynka 21. M. Tretyakovskaya, Dobryninskaya.
"Wonderful Reality of Mexico in the Russian Perception" on Nov. 18 at 6 p.m. State Library of Foreign Literature, Ulitsa Nikoloyamskaya 1, Oval Hall
Contemporary Mexican art, architecture, cinema, literature, music and cuisine will showcase the country in the "Mexico in Moscow" festival, running from Nov. 11 through Dec. 7.
"We are doing this for the Russians, so that they can learn about Mexico, and we can show them what is modern Mexico," said Leonor Pintado, the cultural attache of the Mexican Embassy who has been working on the project for a year. The openings of virtually all of the events will be free for anyone to attend.
"We want everyone to come," says Pintado. "Culture is for everyone."
There are gaps in Russia and Mexico's knowledge of each other today -- hence the festival -- but they are also no strangers.
Russia and Mexico were once allies in spirit as the two began the 20th century with dramatic revolutions. Mexico's revolution came first in 1910, and seven years later when the Russian revolution brought the Bolsheviks to power, the new socialist state was welcomed in Mexico City.
 Mexican Embassy The Mexican embassy organized the "Mexico in Moscow" festival to introduce Russians to modern Mexico. One participating exhibition showcases 10 contemporary Mexican architects. |  |
| |
Drama of a different kind made more of an impression on ordinary Russians. Telenovelas, Latin soap operas, arrived in the Soviet Union in the 1970s, and the passionate overacting found an eager audience in Brezhnev's Soviet Union and still do even today. "The Rich Can Cry Too," the biggest of the telenovelas, was so popular that it is said to have ushered in a temporary truce between warring Georgians and Abkhaz so that they could watch the program. When the program was taken off the air in the 1990s, there were demonstrations by angry grandmothers outside the television stations.
However, Pintado laments that Russians today have little or no knowledge of other aspects of Mexican culture.
"We want to update Russians and decided to do it through art, culture and music." The festival spreads Mexican photos, top-class food, architecture, film and music around the city as a way to experience modern Mexico.
 Mexican Embassy | |
| |
The Moscow exhibit will include 15 photos and two videos never seen outside of Mexico City. Pintado believes that Muscovites will be able to relate to this exhibit given big-city life in Moscow.
"The ABCDF show talks about the attitude a 21st-century person has in a megalopolis," wrote exhibit curator Jeronimo Hagerman. "This personal point of view can be translated into any big city in the world. There will be some things that are similar and others which are very different."
The exhibit itself is composed of photographs, everyday objects, video and text that provide a window into Mexico City life. "In Mexico, people live their problems with a lot of humor," said Hagerman. "I think this humor is important, and you can see it in the exhibition."
The exhibit shows from Nov. 12 until Dec. 7, with an open presentation by both curators, Hagerman and Cristina Faesler on Nov. 13 at 5 p.m.
Called, "the best chef in Mexico," by Pintado, five-star Diamond Award Chef Martha Ortiz will be preparing her version of Mexican cuisine from Nov. 13 to 16 at Nedalny Vostok.
"We will bring a menu that will represent Mexican cuisine, with some traditional dishes, but updated. For example, guacamole with pomegranate and requeson [a ricotta-like cheese]," Pintado said.
Ortiz will be working her magic in the open-air kitchen at the restaurant accompanied by bartender Ivan Rizo, who, Ortiz has said, understands "the mystic spirit of tequila and mescal."
 Mexican Embassy | |
| |
Dishes are expected to cater to Russians, so don't expect it to be Mexican spicy. An appetizer and main dish will cost around 3,000 rubles.
The Schusev State Museum of Architecture will hold an exhibition of 10 contemporary Mexican architects, chosen not necessarily for their popularity but rather for the span of generations that they represent.
"Russians don't realize that Mexico City is the biggest metropolis in the world. These architects are not world stars but local stars," says museum director David Sarkisyan.
The exhibit will feature projections and photos of each work as well as a round table discussion comparing contemporary Russian and Mexican architects, moderated by Sarkisyan. The exhibit is showing from Nov. 12 to Dec. 7, with the round table discussion on Nov. 12 at 1 p.m.
Simultaneously on display in the museum will be a collection by Russian photographer Kirill Ovchinnikov, who traveled to local towns in Mexico documenting the Day of the Dead. The traditional holiday commemorates the transitory return of deceased relatives and loved ones to Earth, for which an altar is built in the home. A typical altar and videos of the festivities will also be on display.
The full cultural portrait is completed by film, music and literature debuts. Showing at the Formula Kino Europe from Nov. 12 to 26 will be six recently released Mexican films, including "Deficit," the directorial debut of Gael Garcia Bernal, star of "Y Tu Mama Tambien" and "The Motorcycle Diaries."
Two books vital to understanding Mexican culture will also be published in Russian for the first time for the festival. "The Wonderful Reality of Mexico in the Russian Perception," an anthology of texts by Russian travelers to Mexico, will be presented at the Oval State Library of Foreign Literature on Nov. 18.
"A New Brief History of Mexico," which Pintado claims every Mexican involved in foreign policy has read, will be presented at the Institute of Latin American on Nov. 20.
Finally, eight young Mexican musicians will perform traditional Mexican music conducted by Antoly Levin at the Rakhmaninov Hall of the Moscow State Conservatory on Nov. 16 at 2 p.m.
In creating this event, Pintado asked herself, "How can I wake up Russians' interest in Mexico?" If the above doesn't do it, nothing will.
Mexico in Moscow Listings
Young Mexican Musicians on Nov. 16 at 2 p.m. Rakhmaninov Hall of the Moscow State Conservatory, 11 Bolshaya Nikitskaya Ulitsa. M. Pushkinskaya, Biblioteka Imeni Lenina. 629-9401/7412/8183.
New Mexican Films runs Nov. 12 to 26. Formula Kino Europe, Evropeisky shopping mall, Ploshchad Kievskogo Vokzala 2. M. Kievskaya. 795-3795. Horizont Cinema, Komsomolsky Prospect, 21/10 M. Fruzenskaya. 795 3795
Mexican Cuisine of Martha Ortiz is Nov. 13 to 20. Nedalny Vostok, Tverskoi Bulvar, 15/2. M. Pushkinskaya. 694 0641.
Mexican Contemporary Architecture Photography, "Mexico: Day of the Dead... Celebration of Life" runs Nov. 12 to Dec. 7. Round Table Discussion (Architecture) on Nov. 12 at 1 p.m. The Schusev State Museum of Architecture. Ulitsa Vozdvizhenka 5. M. Biblioteka Lenina, Arbatskaya, Aleksandrovsky Sad. Open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., closed Mondays. Cost 100 rubles Opening on Nov. 12 at 17 p.m. (Architecture) and 8 p.m. (Day of the Dead). 107-9074.
"ABCDF: Portraits of Mexico City" runs Nov. 12 to Dec. 7. Open lecture on Nov. 13 at 5 p.m. Moscow Museum of Modern Art, Gogolevsky Bulvar 10, M. Kropotkinskaya. Open 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Closed Nov. 30. 694 2890 www.mmoma.ru.
Book Presentations:
"A New Brief History of Mexico" on Nov. 20 at 5 p.m. Institute of Latin America, Ulitsa Bolshaya Ordynka 21. M. Tretyakovskaya, Dobryninskaya.
"Wonderful Reality of Mexico in the Russian Perception" on Nov. 18 at 6 p.m. State Library of Foreign Literature, Ulitsa Nikoloyamskaya 1, Oval Hall
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