Dmitry Starshinov

Bolshoi. New Time

Dance is one of the most photogenic arts. Striking, talented, plastic and incredibly beautiful ballet dancers inspire and have always inspired the greatest photographers to create series that become classics of world photography almost instantly. During its 20-year history MAMM has frequently showcased exhibitions devoted to ballet that have invariably been a great success with the public: Georgy Petrusov’s ‘The Bolshoi Ballet’, Dieter Blum’s ‘Body and Inspiration’, ‘Diana Vishneva through the Lens of Patrick Demarchelier’, ‘Dance in Vogue’ including the work of George Hoyningen-Huene, Cecil Beaton, Sylvie Guillem and others, and an exhibition by Vladimir Fridkes dedicated to star of the Bolshoi Ballet Svetlana Zakharova.
The Russian ballet has always been at the forefront of ballet art. Without the productions of Marius Petipa, the choreography of George Balanchine and Sergei Diaghilev’s Russian Seasons it is simply impossible to imagine the art of the 20th century. The Bolshoi Theatre, in turn, has always remained a symbol of Russia all over the world, a platform on which the most significant, interesting and debated events in the field of classical art unfolded.
The concept of the Fashion and Style in Photography festival, which traditionally acquaints viewers with masterpieces of world photography and with the work of young Russian and foreign photographers, is an examination of the concept of style and its evolution. This year the title theme of the Biennale is the ‘Wind of Time’. The project by Bolshoi ballet dancer Dmitry Starshinov, who photographed backstage life and the rehearsal process for an entire year, is as close as possible to the central theme and general concept of the Biennale. The exhibition not only shows what happens behind the scenes at the Bolshoi. It allows us to see how this theatre whose ballet troupe is known all over the world, primarily thanks to the classical repertoire, is constantly expanding its stylistic range, inviting contemporary choreographers, composers and directors to collaborate.
The exhibition includes shots of classic ballets, but the emphasis is on modern ballet productions at the theatre that speak to the viewer in a different visual and plastic language. Among them are productions staged in recent years that were specially commissioned by the Bolshoi Theatre, above all ‘A Hero of Our Time’ by the young composer Ilya Demutsky. Staged by choreographer Yuri Posokhov and director Kirill Serebrennikov, it received the Golden Mask award as the Best Ballet Production of 2016.
Another production that had its world premiere at the Bolshoi was the ballet ‘The Taming of the Shrew’ with music by Shostakovich, staged by outstanding modern choreographer Jean-Christophe Maillot and also awarded the Golden Mask as the Best Ballet Production (2015). Photos included in the exhibition were taken during the Bolshoi Theatre’s triumphal tour at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden (London) in July and August 2016.
The legacy of Shostakovich was a source of inspiration for another premiere at the Bolshoi in recent years, the dramatic ballet of ‘Hamlet’, as created by Radu Poklitaru, Declan Donnellan and Nick Ormerod.
Another part of the exposition is dedicated to two productions that were the fruit of cooperation between the Bolshoi Theatre and Alexei Ratmansky, who is today one of the most popular choreographers in the world: ‘The Bright Stream’ (Golden Mask for the Best Choreography, 2004; the British Critics’ Circle Award, 2006) and ‘Russian Seasons’ by contemporary composer Leonid Desyatnikov, with whom the Bolshoi Theatre has staged a number of productions (‘Russian Seasons’ was awarded the Golden Mask in the nomination Best Production in Ballet, 2010).
Finally, there is a separate part of the exhibition set aside for the ballet ‘Undine’ by German composer Hans Werner Henze, staged by Vyacheslav Samodurov. Celebrated British theatre designer Anthony Mcilwaine devised the scenography for this staging in emphatically minimalist style.
This first solo exhibition by Dmitry Starshinov reveals to the public another, more ‘informal’ Bolshoi. Together with the photographer we can observe the working process, the intense rehearsals, moments of relaxation and the extreme concentration of artists before making their stage entrance — aspects usually hidden from prying eyes. All this must be seen if we are to understand how magnificent productions that the whole world deservedly admires are created on the stage of the Bolshoi Theatre.