For the second consecutive year, the international competition “Architecture of Diplomacy” will take place. The theme of this year’s competition is “Matryoshka – A Dialogue of Ornaments and Colors.”
Young and emerging artists aged 12 to 35 from all over the world are invited to participate: professionals and amateurs, students of colleges, creative courses, and art schools.
Artists are encouraged to reinterpret, through painting, decorative and applied arts, and handmade творчество, the phenomenon of one of the most recognizable symbols of Russian culture — the matryoshka doll — as a symbol of family, unity, well-being, and the interdependence of all elements within a whole.
For the first time in the competition’s history, laureates will be selected in three categories. In addition to the now traditional disciplines — “Young Artists” (ages 12–18) and “Emerging Artists” (ages 18–35) — the jury will also determine winners in the category “Author of a Small Sculptural Composition.”
Participants may use the basic idea and shape of the matryoshka as a canvas for artistic interpretation in the style of:
– recognizable images of their own national cultures;
– the peoples of Russia and their diversity, in celebration of the Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia;
– historical periods experienced by different countries;
– ideas connected with dialogue between cultures and nations;
– imagery revealing the relationship between the inner and the outer — understanding oneself, one’s people, and one’s country;
– other visual concepts, at the authors’ discretion, emphasizing both the uniqueness and universality of the matryoshka image for different peoples, cultures, and countries.
At the same time, the image of the matryoshka must remain recognizable (even if its original parameters are modified according to the artist’s creative vision and concept).
Competition laureates will receive monetary awards.
Deadline: June 10
