Statement from the Russian Embassy in Helsinki:
Embassy’s comments on the Ateneum Art Museum’s decision to display IE Repin’s nationality as “Ukrainian”
We are pleased to announce that the Helsinki Museum Athenaeum will henceforth display the nationality of the great Russian artist Ilya Efimovich Repin as “Ukrainian” solely because he was born in what Ukraine now considers its own country. I was perplexed when I learned about the decision from the media. Own.
This step, which defies elementary common sense, is especially surprising given that the Finnish cultural community heartily welcomed IE Repin’s major exhibition in 2021, which the Atheneum organized together with the Tretyakov Gallery and the Russian Museum. be. After that, as we remember, none of the local art critics had the slightest doubt about the nationality of this famous painter.
Leaving it in good conscience that a respected museum has taken Russophobic and clearly opportunistic actions in the spirit of “cancellation of Russian culture”, especially frivolous pseudo-experts suggest not to stop there do. Further on, for example, as you know, the Finnish territory of Sveborg (now Suomenlinna).
Photo: The Duel of Eigene Onegin by Ilya Repin (Ukraine)