Tuesday, June 26 2007, 09 AM ← →

VLADIVOSTOK, June 26, vladivostoktimes.com The festival will last from June 27 till July 2. This is the fifth such event in the city and this time it is devoted to the birthday of Vladivostok.

Russian and foreign maestros of visual arts will participate in the "festival of festivals." The Japanese delegation is the most numerous.

85 participants from Tokyo, Niigata, Osaka and Shimane, Hokkaido, and Iwate Prefectures have expressed their wish to come for the biennale, said Nobuyuki NAKAMOTO, the Chairman of the Japan-Russia Association, Honorary Professor of Kanagawa University. "These are creative groups, artists, scientists, representatives of theatres and museums," said Prof. NAKAMOTO.

"We are interested not only in the Fifth Biennale," stressed Prof. NAKAMOTO. "We are ready to consider any cultural, economic, sports proposals on cooperation. Next year we have planned for trade and industry exhibitions, which we will bring to Vladivostok."

The City Administration has already prepared the programme of the biennale. In the festival days guests and residents of Vladivostok will see a number of exhibitions: "China. Enchanting Mudanjiang" (guohua and watercolour paintings), "The Russian America; under skies above clouds," "Times of the year in Nishigawa," and the international children's painting exhibition "Pictures of my city."

Besides that, manga master-classes, presentations of the folk-laboratory Tradition, the art project Cheloveki (Humans), and the exhibition project Studion-04 will be held.

Andrei SIDOROV, the Head of the Vladivostok City Administration Office for public relations, said the Administration will do as much as they can to help conduct the exhibitions and master-classes. "Vladivostok is open for cooperation. We always remember that our city is a gateway to Europe for our neighbours in the Asian Pacific. Common events will not only help us make better friends, but also learn each other's culture."