Apparently, the reluctant summer weather has rubbed off on the local art scene f one of the few gems to be found this week is an exhibit of photographs as gray as the skies were early this week: a collection by photographer and architect Ilya Utkin.
The exhibit, titled "Melancholia," opens Tuesday at the Museum of Architecture and is typical of Utkin's work, which is neither frivolous nor optimistic f this exhibit depicts the decay of the country's architectural structures. Recently, a selection of Utkin's photographs was exhibited within the framework of the "Ruins of Paradise" project at Venice's Architectural Biennale, where the work was highly praised by the jury.
Decaying buildings are a common sight in this country. In his work, Utkin mourns the destruction of churches, palaces and other buildings in favor of more functional buildings or housing f small tragedies he seems to equate with the general death of Russian architecture.
Of course, if you're looking for something a little more uplifting, perhaps a baroque concert at the famous 18th-century estate of Count Sheremetyev, now the Ostankino Estate Theater, is in order. The estate has been converted into a museum and is in no danger of falling down. This Sunday afternoon, pianist Yury Martynov will perform the music of Franz Joseph Haydn and Amadeus Mozart on the hammer clavichord, for which the music was written. If the weather is nice, the concert will offer a great opportunity for combining classical architecture, music and a bit of fresh air.
"Melancholia" opens Tuesday at the Museum of Architecture, located at 5 Ulitsa Vozdvizhenka. Metro Arbatskaya. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., closed Mondays. Tel. 291-1978, 290-4855.
Yury Martynov performs at 4 p.m. Sunday at the Ostankino Estate Theater, located at 5 1st Ostankinskaya Ulitsa. Metro VDNKh. Tel. 213-2719. The theater's box office is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day except Monday.