Day of Slavic Literacy and Culture
International Day of the Russian Language
Birthday of Russian poet Alexander Pushkin
External stands of the Russian House in Brussels
Language: Russian
Starting from June 6, the Russian House in Brussels presents on its outdoor stands a project of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs titled “The Fairytale Code of the Russian Soul” – a unique artistic exhibition “Russian Alphabet in the Illustrations by Marina Khankova.” The exhibition demonstrates the inseparable connection between the Russian language and the artistic traditions, moral values, and cultural guidelines of the people. The genre-based historical illustrations contain numerous meanings, connections, and mysteries, allowing viewers to understand the spirit and character of the Russian people.
Marina Khankova is a graduate of the Design Faculty of the Moscow Open Social University and a participant in numerous exhibitions. Her works immerse viewers in Russian history, nature, traditions, everyday life, and decorative and applied arts. For more than 30 years, she has taught drawing and painting. She creates all her projects through the eyes and hearts of her students, each of whom becomes part of her life and inner world.
The “Alphabet” was created by the artist over eight years (2004–2012) with the support of art historian, restorer, and collector Alexander Rezhin.
The illustrations draw on themes from magical Russian fairy tales, legends, and epic poems that form the foundation of national culture and aesthetics. They are inspired by the works of great Russian artists such as Viktor Vasnetsov, Ivan Bilibin, and others.
The alphabet is the first textbook in a person’s life on the path to education, personal development, and spiritual growth. It shapes a unified, holistic, and imaginative perception of the homeland in children, awakens love for the Motherland, and reveals the richness of the Russian language as a fundamental value of the Russian state and a foundation of spiritual and national identity.
With the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, the “Alphabet” embarks on its first journey around the world.
