Results of the 5th Open Creative Competition “Architecture of Diplomacy” have been announced

GlavUpDK under the MFA of Russia announces the results of the 5th Open Creative Competition “Architecture of Diplomacy”, with winning artists, aged 12 to 35, coming from Belarus, India, Indonesia, Cyprus, Cuba, the Netherlands, Russia and Turkey.

The competition's subject, "Matryoshka doll – a conversation of ornaments", invites artists to reimagine one of the most recognizable images of the Russian culture, the Matryoshka doll, as a symbol of family, unity and prosperity, using pictorial arts, decorative and applied arts and crafts.

A record-breaking number of entries was received this year: 601. They were submitted by professional and amateur artists from Russia and 36 foreign countries. It is especially heartening that many of this year's entries were submitted by young creators. We thank them for their interest in our competition and are looking forward to new pieces they will present in the future.

The competition jury included: Dmitry Bak, Director, Vladimir Dahl Russian State Literary Museum; Natalya Virtuozova, General Director, Russia National Center; Ivan Glazunov, Rector, Russian Academy of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture; Elena Gryaznova, Information Representative, Union of Artists of Russia; Pavel Gusev, Editor-in-Chief, Moskovsky Komsomolets newspaper; Maria Zakharova, Director, Information and Press Department, Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Olga Zvonaryova, Manager, Talent Synergy; Sergey Kurasov, Rector, Stroganov University; Olga Muratova, Chair, Rossotrudnichestvo Department of Cultural Initiatives; Vyacheslav Fatin, Head, GlavUpDK under the MFA of Russia, President, Restorers Association of Russia; Vasili Tsereteli, President, Russian Academy of Arts; Dmitry Shvidkovsky, Rector, Moscow Institute of Architecture; Sergey Shitkov, First Vice Rector – Director, MGIMO Diplomatic Academy under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, PhD in Law; Nikolay Shumakov, President, Union of Architects of Russia.

For the first time in the competition's history, winners have been announced in three categories. On top of traditional 'Child Artists' and 'Young Artists' categories, the jury also named winners in the new one: 'Art Objects'. Taking the classic Matryoshka doll shape as a baseline, contestants reimagined it in creative ways, restyling it according to the artistic traditions of their countries, historical ages and events.

'Art Objects' category winners:

·        Ksenia Mokrova ('BRICS Matryoshka Dolls'), Russia

·        Irina Deryabina ('Peace in Unity'), Russia

'Motherland', another piece by Ksenia Mokrova, winner of the four prior competitions, was included in the short list of 15 best entries in the 'Young Artists (18 to 35)' category. Other artists on the list:

·        Mikhail Butuzov ('1030 Years of the Russian Stone Architecture'; 'Matryoshka Doll in Sync with Russia's heart'), two times Competition winner, Russia

·        Anna Vlasenkova ('Patterns of Diplomacy'), Türkiye

·        Maria Gavrilova ('Unity in Diversity'), Russia

·        Aleksandra Gumen ('Portrait of a Girl Playing with Matryoshka Dolls'), three times Competition winner, Russia

·        VIktoria Dubovets ('Waiting for a Pattern'), the Republic of Belarus

·        Alina Katsaran ('Soul Hidden in a Matryoshka Doll'), two times Competition winner, Russia

·        Meknassi Khadija ('Morocco-Amazigh Matryoshka Doll'), Russia

·        Alejandro Nelson ('Halves'), the Republic of Cuba

·        Anna Churilova ('The People Unity through the Russian Doll Symbol') three times Competition winner, Russia

·        Valeria Shipilova ('Samovar Is Boiling, Market Is Bustling'), Russia

·        Anastasia Shcheglova ('A Common Identity'), five times Competition winner, Russia

·        Fairuz Nur Afifah ('Amidst Her Phantoms'), the Republic of Indonesia

·        Saini Tanishka ('Matryoshka Doll – A Conversation of Ornaments and Colors'), the Republic of India

The 'Child Artists (12 to 18 years old)' category that received 307 entries from all over the world, was also not easy for the jury to judge.

The winners were:

·        Maria Vladykina ('Inside an Image), Russia

·        Tanya Galeeva ('Family of Peoples'), Russia

·        Maya Drobny ('Matryoshka Doll'), the Kingdom of the Netherlands

·        Ulyana Kachan ('Belarus, a Symbol of Traditions and Authenticity'), the Republic of Belarus

·        Aleksandra Murugova ('Matryoshka Doll, the Symbol of Unity of the Peoples of Russia), the Republic of Cyprus

The official award ceremony with the jury members in attendance will take place in Moscow. Its date and time are to be announced later.

The winners will be awarded monetary rewards and commemorative gifts from GlavUpDK under the MFA of Russia.

You can see the winning entries in the Gallery.

Ksenia Mokrova ('BRICS Matryoshka Dolls')

Ksenia Mokrova ('Motherland')

Irina Deryabina ('Peace in Unity')

Mikhail Butuzov ('1030 Years of the Russian Stone Architecture')

Mikhail Butuzov ('Matryoshka Doll in Sync with Russia's heart')

Anna Vlasenkova ('Patterns of Diplomacy')

Maria Gavrilova ('Unity in Diversity')

Aleksandra Gumen ('Portrait of a Girl Playing with Matryoshka Dolls')

VIktoria Dubovets ('Waiting for a Pattern')

Alina Katsaran ('Soul Hidden in a Matryoshka Doll')

Meknassi Khadija ('Morocco-Amazigh Matryoshka Doll')

Alejandro Nelson ('Halves')

Anna Churilova ('The People Unity through the Russian Doll Symbol')

Valeria Shipilova ('Samovar Is Boiling, Market Is Bustling')

Anastasia Shcheglova ('A Common Identity')

Fairuz Nur Afifah ('Amidst Her Phantoms')

Saini Tanishka ('Matryoshka Doll – A Conversation of Ornaments and Colors')

Maria Vladykina ('Inside an Image)

Tanya Galeeva ('Family of Peoples')

Maya Drobny ('Matryoshka Doll')

Ulyana Kachan ('Belarus, a Symbol of Traditions and Authenticity')

Aleksandra Murugova ('Matryoshka Doll, the Symbol of Unity of the Peoples of Russia)