Only recently, on May the 28th Valiakhmetov Rustem, the Director of Museum of Soviet lifestyle, was a guest at the exhibition of Great Russian and Chinese calligraphy in State Duma, and already on June the 11th the delegation of Association of private museums of Russia and Contemporary Museum of Calligraphy attended the State Duma for the grand opening of the exhibition “Museum of Soviet lifestyle”, to coincide with Russia Day.
Initiators of the exhibition were the State Duma Committee on CIS, Eurasian integration and relations with compatriots, and the Museum of Soviet lifestyle.
The grand opening ceremony have attended: Umakhanov Umakhan, Deputy Chairman of State Duma Committee on CIS, Eurasian integration and relations with compatriots; Khusnullin Ravil, State Duma member, PhD in Pedagogic sciences; Shevtsov Pavel, Deputy Director of the Federal agency on CIS, compatriots living abroad and on the international humanitarian cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo); Sutormina Elena, First Deputy Chairman of International Public Fund “Russian Peace Fund”, member of the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation; Karlova Marina, President of the Andrey Karlov International Charity Foundation; Turov Alexander, Vice-president of International Council for economic cooperation of the regions; Sergeeva Ekaterina, President and producer of the International festival and competition of the Russian culture “Istoki”; Mirov Sergey, script-writer, producer, musician; Abdulova Yulia, writer, translator; delegation of students from Canada and others.
Renat Ibragimov, National Artist of RSFSR, opened the exhibition by singing two songs – “Russia – my motherland” and “Stay forever young”.
After an amazing performance by Renat Ibragimov, Zinnurov Irek– Member of the State Duma Committee on CIS, Eurasian integration and relations with compatriots- has taken the role of the host and congratulated all the guests with the upcoming celebration- Russia Day. He mentioned that this celebration was an act of love and respect to our motherland, a symbol of unity. Motherland for everyone is where a person was born and where he lives, studies and works.
Deputies, members of the Committee on CIS, supported the initiative of Rustem Valiakhmetov, Director of the private Museum of Soviet lifestyle and Honored cultural worker of Tatarstan Republic, on holding the exhibition “Museum of Soviet lifestyle” at the State Duma.
Irek Zinnurov figuratively described the history of the making of the private Museum of Soviet lifestyle, that it was the oldest project on the topic of everyday life history of a soviet person in the 1970s and 1980s. The date of its founding could be considered the beginning of 1990s of the 20th century. Museum of Soviet lifestyle is a unique project, which is already 28 years old. Having a wide public response, in partnership with Kazan City government -Museum of Soviet lifestyle has been established in the middle of the city and it is widely accessible.
The previously underground project has become publicly accessible. The most commonly used expression in the Museum of Soviet lifestyle is “I did have this!” And I had this too! Reminiscing about those times when people enjoyed life’s small pleasures and had those simple things such as jeans, tape recorder, dolls, toys in the era of lack of computers and mobile phones, personal cars and other usual things at the present time. Today the museum works not only in Kazan city but has opened its doors in other cities of Russia: Saint-Petersburg, Moscow, Samara, Elabuga and other cities. At the present time the project has become international: it has branches in Paris and Brussels, and the biggest branch of Museum of Soviet lifestyle is located in Antalya. The total space is 900 sqm. Compatriots, living abroad, actively cooperate with the museum’s employees and take part in various events that are carried out together.
The keynote of all speeches was the idea that without the past there is no present and, especially, no future. Things of the soviet lifestyle, that are presented at the exhibition, help to reminisce about the past in which we were happy and sad, played and studied, apprehending the meaning of life. And if there are more museums not only public, but private as well, which help to preserve the history of Russia –than we will be more worthy role models for future generations. The speakers reminisced and told about their past, brought some things from soviet times for the opening and presented them to the Museum of Soviet lifestyle.
In conclusion of the exhibition’s opening ceremony, the host Irek Zinnurov, on behalf of deputies of State Duma- members of the Committee on CIS, Eurasian integration and relations with compatriots, thanked all the participants and initiators of this exhibition and congratulated everyone once again with the celebration- Russia Day, wishing happiness, health and peaceful sky above!
