The Lisri Contemporary Art Festival has opened in Mamison.
For the second time, the mountain resort in North Ossetia has become a creative space at the intersection of contemporary art, nature, and the region's cultural heritage. Boris Dzhanayev, Chairman of the Government of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania, attended the opening ceremony.
The festival will run for three days, from August 21 to 23. Events are planned at three venues: the resort's fairground, the upper station of the Zaramag cable car, and the contemporary art gallery in the service center. On the evenings of August 21 and 22, there will be a light and music show against the backdrop of the ancient towers of the village of Lisri. The Ossetian band Ragon Bal will perform, followed by a light show.
The art festival was attended by Boris Dzhanayev, Chairman of the Government of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania, Oleg Bykadorov, Acting Minister of Economic Development of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania, and Archbishop Gerasim of Vladikavkaz and Alania.
Boris Dzhanaev, along with Andrey Yumshanov, CEO of Kavkaz.RF, participated in the opening of two exhibitions. The first was by the master of Russian sculpture, Vladimir Soskiev, whose works adorn the slopes of the Zaramag cable car's upper station and the resort's square. The exhibition, titled "Pilgrim," is dedicated to the artist's journey; all sculptures are accompanied by poems by authors from the Daryal magazine—friends of the festival.
The second exhibition features young artists from across the country, participants in the first art residency at Mamison. All works are inspired by the nature of North Ossetia. For example, Georgy Orlov-Davydovsky presented an acoustic project—the sound of the melting Tsei Glacier—which plays in the gallery instead of musical accompaniment.
"Today's festival is further proof that Mamison has become more than just a tourist destination, but a creative cluster where nature, art, and cultural heritage are harmoniously intertwined." This is something that interests visitors and makes the residents of our republic proud. "Mamison" is a living backdrop for renowned artists from across the country. Their paintings will then travel to other cities and exhibitions. This way, Ossetia will become increasingly known. Contemporary art is already being created here. The festival's rich and innovative program is a true gift to everyone who visits the resort during these days. We see great interest in this format, so, of course, together with Kavkaz.RF, we will continue to develop the creative sector, especially since it, like tourism, is becoming an important part of the region's economy," notes Boris Dzhanayev, Chairman of the Government of North Ossetia.
During the festival, a fair of local crafts and gastronomy will be held in the resort's main square, along with children's master classes and lectures. Experimental electronic ethno music will be played at the top cable car station, and botanist-led tours will be available. Especially for the festival, the team published a botanical guide to the plants of the Mamison Gorge, immersing tourists in the wondrous world of flora.
"Our dream is for Mamison to become a place where creativity blossoms in everyone, be they an accountant, an IT specialist, or an agronomist. To create such an environment, we invited artists—people with a keen sense of this world and the ability to speak the language of sensory experience. But this story is for everyone, especially those tired of their phone or computer screens and wanting to remember what real life and inspiration are," said Andrey Yumshanov, CEO of Kavkaz.RF, after visiting the exhibition.