An unusual art exhibition titled “Colors of the World” was held at the State Tretyakov Gallery in the Russian capital. It was initiated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, bringing together paintings shared by the foreign diplomatic missions accredited in Moscow.
One hundred works from twenty embassies of foreign countries from different regions of the world, such as Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and the CIS contributed to creating an amazingly bright exhibition, with expressive shades of national colors conveying the specifics and key trends of modern fine art of different countries. The Embassy of Turkmenistan in the Russian Federation also creatively contributed to the collective efforts of foreign diplomats by providing several magnificent examples of national Turkmen painting imbued with the spirit of folklore, subtle folk humor and colors of oriental fairy tales.
At the exhibition grand opening, the guests were welcomed by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for the Middle East and Africa Mikhail Bogdanov. He noted that the collection of paintings is a space for strengthening respect and mutual understanding between representatives of different countries through the prism of art, laying the foundation for strong friendly interstate relations. Deputy Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation Andrey Malyshev and General Director of the State Tretyakov Gallery Elena Pronicheva also addressed the guests of the exhibition.
The exhibition opening ceremony in the new building of the Tretyakov Gallery on Kadashevskaya Embankment was attended by the heads and employees of about 60 diplomatic missions, some of whom were the authors of several works. Foreign diplomats spoke with particular warmth about the exhibition, emphasizing the importance of holding such events, which represent an extra channel for cultural exchange and deepening humanitarian ties.
A unique large-scale project presents an important aspect of international cooperation, such as cultural diplomacy. After all, each work presented at the exhibition is not only a work of art, but also a part of the soul of its creator, a reflection of impressions of different cultures and eternal values.
The Turkmen artists’ works are not often exhibited at contemporary art exhibitions in the Russian capital. That is why it is even more pleasant to note that the demanding professional approach of the Tretyakov Gallery experts to compiling the current exhibition allowed them to select for public viewing bright and memorable works by Turkmen authors – innovative in their artistic forms of reflection of reality and deeply national in content. It is no coincidence that both connoisseurs of fine art and ordinary fans of original national colors lingered at the stands with examples of contemporary Turkmen painting.
Commenting on the exhibition of Turkmen paintings as part of the collective international exhibition in the halls of the State Tretyakov Gallery, the Head of the Turkmen diplomatic mission in Russia Esen Aydogdyev noted that the year 2025 was declared the International Year of Peace and Trust by the UN General Assembly at Turkmenistan’s initiative, which is not only of political but also great cultural and historical significance. Turkmenistan views the events of the year as a powerful positive impetus to bringing states and peoples closer to each other and enhancing mutual understanding between them. Although the current exhibition is only a small episode in the enormous work to develop friendly humanitarian ties between Turkmenistan and the rest of the world, it is precisely from such episodes that the overall picture of the Year of Peace and Trust is formed, enriched with the unchanging traditions of mutual cultural penetration, friendship and sympathy between peoples.