Animals in the carvings of white-stone churches of Kievan Rus’

The exhibition "Animals in the carvings of white-stone churches of Kievan Rus’" is part of a large project "A touching story" aimed at expanding the accessibility of cultural objects for people with disabilities. The project, which won in 2020 at the XXII INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL “INTERMUSEUM-2020”, opens an exhibition at Darwin Museum on October 22, 2020.

The exhibition offers visitors an alternative way to “look at" history. Detailed copies of bas-reliefs with images of animals made almost a thousand years ago, are the main exhibits on display. Both real and mythical creatures were carved from stone by Russian sculptors in the 11-12th centuries to decorate the walls of the St. George Cathedral in the Vladimir-Suzdal principality.

The exhibition brings us back the work of artists of Kievan Rus’ - recreated images of animals tell us their story and explain their significance in the culture of that period.

You can use the headphones installed near each exhibit to listen to the audio guide or find the bas-relief of interest on a mobile app to learn the history of each of these creatures, including the mythical Centaur, Alkonost, and Pardus.

Each exhibit is made of materials that convey the shape as well as the tactile features of the original work. By touching it, the visitor will feel as if he/she touched a real artifact of the 11th-12th centuries. It is not only possible but also necessary to touch the replicas to use new perception channels and literally touch the history of Kievan Rus’.