Annya Sand. Pushkin. 2013. Oil on canvas. 91 x 71 cm.  Image courtesy the artist.

• Study of Russia exhibition at Asia House, London, 4 – 8 December 2013
• Ahead of Bi-Lateral UK-Russia Year of Culture
• Features Russia’s cultural and political icons
• Exhibition includes a panel discussion with cultural commentators

Ahead of the UK-Russia Year of Culture 2014, December 2013 will see Asia House host the exhibition Study of Russia. The exhibition will celebrate Russian cultural icons through the works of Contemporary artist Annya Sand, who has been inspired by Russia’s multifaceted heritage. Some works hark to the pastoral beauty of Russia’s landscape, some celebrate its architectural heritage, while others explore famous faces and figures in Russian society. Study of Russia will also include a panel discussion with cultural commentators.

“Study of Russia is a truly challenging and exciting project. It took me two years to complete this series of paintings. It was a deeply emotional and personal journey,” says Sand. “The collection is an exploration of the ravishing diversity within Russia, a country with a fascinating cultural heritage and close connections to Europe and Central Asia. By bringing these artworks to the London art scene, I hope to contribute to the dialogue between Russia and the UK, while providing a cultural and historical context. Study of Russia highlights Russia’s multifaceted culture: from mesmerising cathedrals and ballet dancers to portraits of Russia’s most iconic and influential leaders. It is my personal belief that continuously presenting the public with foreign cultures in multiple ways helps promote peace through art, and thus fosters better understanding between nations.”

Celebrating the long cultural tradition of engagement between the two countries, the UK/Russia Year of Culture in 2014 will illustrate the way in which the relationship continues to develop new, creative and contemporary narratives in both countries.

The exhibition is proud to partner with The Children’s Burns Trust and 20 percent of proceeds from the sale of the exhibition will go towards the charity.

Further details on the panel discussion line-up will be announced in due course.

For interview opportunities with Annya Sand, high-resolution pictures or more information, please contact [email protected] or call +44 0203 582 7324

Notes for Editors

About Annya Sand
Contemporary British artist Annya Sand was born in Kazakhstan, and currently lives and works in London. Sand’s works have been exhibited in leading international galleries. In 2011, she came to prominence during the Tashkent Contemporary Art Biennale in Uzbekistan. In 2012, her solo exhibition, Abstract Thinking, was featured in the Art Gallery of Uzbekistan, Tashkent, during UZ Art Week. In 2009, she was selected by the Minister of Culture of the Kyrgyz Republic to exhibit her paintings at the Kyrgyz National Museum of Fine Arts and the National Museum of Kazakhstan in the Kasteev State Museum of Arts. In London, she is represented by Tanya Baxter Contemporary.

Sand is keen to promote Central Asian art internationally. In 2010, she worked with the Kasteev State Museum of Arts, Kazakhstan, to help organise Treasures of Kazakhstan, an exhibition held at Christie’s, London, of Kazakh and Russian art on loan from the Museum. She is the founder of The Annya Sand Prize, an award supporting the best emerging artists from the Former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. Sand is a dedicated supporter of charities that assist children and women. As former co-director of the inaugural Russian, Eastern & Oriental Fine Art Fair in London, Sand has raised thousands of pounds for The Children’s Burns Trust. Most recently, she took part in the Asia Hotel Art Fair and the Asia Contemporary Art Show in Hong Kong. For more information visit www.annyasandart.co.uk

Children’s Burns Trust
The Children’s Burns Trust (CBT) is a UK national charity dedicated to providing rehabilitation support for burned and scald injured children and their families as well as prevention and awareness campaigns, for which there is little or no national funding. They make a positive difference in three ways: working with others to raise the awareness of burns and scalds including prevention campaigns, working with NHS professionals to provide direct help and funding for rehabilitation and giving direct financial support to families and hospitals and providing advice on how to access burn related information. Another important aspect of burn prevention through education is the CBT’s pioneering work in Russia. Over the past 18 years the charity has supported various burns units in Russia, the two main ones being at the Speransky, Hospital No9, Moscow and at Hospital No1, St Petersburg. Others include the burns units in Rostov on Don and smaller burns units in the surrounding areas of St Petersburg. The CBT hopes to expand its support to more units across Russia. For more information visit www.cbtrust.org.uk

About UK-Russian Year of Culture
In March 2013 the UK and Russia signed a landmark agreement that will see a major series of arts and culture activities in both countries next year. Foreign Secretary William Hague and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov signed the Year of Culture agreement and designated 2014 as the UK-Russia Year of Culture at a ceremony in London. The Ministers have spoken of the depth and frequency of cultural and creative contact between the two countries and underlined the importance of cultural relations as a means of strengthening ties between individuals, organisations and governments as well as building bilateral engagement and trust. Foreign Secretary, William Hague said: “The British Council is now working with Russian partners and ministries on a programme of special events in Russia to mark the 2014 Russia UK Year of Culture, which will further deepen our cultural ties and boost people to people links.” Paul de Quincey, Director British Council Russia says: “While the Russian Embassy in London will be primarily responsible for Russian events in the UK, the British Council will be presenting a comprehensive programme of events and projects in Russia drawn from all four countries of the United Kingdom and representing all the art forms, the creative industries, education, science and language. Celebrating the long cultural tradition of engagement between the two countries, and covering the arts, creative industries, science, education and English, the UK-Russia Year of Culture in 2014 will delight and surprise Russian and UK audiences and illustrate the way in which the relationship continues to develop new, creative and contemporary narratives in both countries.”

The UK and Russia welcomed the very positive talks in August 2012 between Russian Minister of Culture, Vladimir Medinsky and his UK counterpart Ed Vaizey at which they discussed ways of building on the already strong cultural links between the two countries. Both countries intend to encourage a wide representation of cultures of their countries in terms of geographical, ethnic and creative diversity. In addition to events in the arts, the Cultural Year programmes may include activities in such spheres as education, language learning, science (including space and innovative technologies), creative industries, sports and exchanges between young people. For more information visit www.gov.uk