Rains of History

The wall near the Museum’s building has 10 portraits of famous cultural figures who fell victim of the political repression, including Nikolai Gumilyov, Vsevolod Meyerkhold, Boris Pilnyak, Osip Mandelstam, Aleksandr Vvedensky, Pavel Florensky, Gustav Shpet, Nikolay Klyuyev, Mikhail Koltsov, Daniil Kharms.

The name refers not only to tears of grief shed in the ruthless stream of time capable of destroying stone pyramids, states, and fragile destinies of people. Rains of history, as well as epochs of history, can be of different kinds. There are rains that wash away the brightest and most talented people as well as fruitful rains that wash away the dust of oblivion. 

This artwork was created by the Moscow street artist Zoom who is famous for his untiring stencil bombing in the capital district of Zamoskvorechye. The artist works with the folk symbolism playing with the consciousness of a modern urban dweller made up of contemporary media, the Soviet time heritage, and the pernicious influence of the Hollywood.