The exhibition features four series of scenographic sketches by Evgenia Kashina, dedicated to different eras and countries. The core of the exhibition is a series dedicated to Ancient Egypt, executed in pastel.(based on the novel "The Pharaoh" by Boleslaw Prus)

"The world of Ancient Egypt has long captivated me with its mystery and color, but most importantly, its unity of wisdom and beauty. You won't find a single thoughtless element in the ornamentation, just as there's no random hieroglyph or figure in ancient Egyptian bas-reliefs. Everything carries its own hidden meaning and reflects the Egyptians' vision of universal harmony and order.

Boleslaw Prus, undoubtedly captivated by this great ancient culture, uses an entire era as a magnificent backdrop. Against a backdrop of majestic temples and elegant palaces, Prus stages a drama that remains timeless today. This is the story of a young prince destined to become the ruler of the most powerful state of his time. But the ominous shadow of decline already looms over Egypt. How can the fall of his beloved country be prevented without compromising his own honor? How can one defend the right to affection when a ruler's personal life is inseparable from state policy? These and other questions confront the young pharaoh, who single-handedly attempts to change the world for the better. The world changes, but at the cost of the lives of the young pharaoh and all those close to him. The pharaoh, however, is left with only oblivion.

In my sketches, I wanted to capture the spirit of an ancient civilization that was able to create monuments unrivaled in power and grandeur, created by human will and human hands, but meant to remind people of their insignificance. This is the story of the world's greatest culture, which somehow emerged from the sand and returns to the sand."

Sketches for the film adaptation of the of Albert Camus's work "The Stranger" convey the unique flavor of the Arab East.

From sultry Algeria we are transported to refined Japan (sketches of the scenery for G. Puccini's opera "Madama Butterfly")

View Evgenia Kashina’s sketches for G. Puccini’s opera “Madama Butterfly” >>

View Evgeniya Kashina's sketches for the film adaptation of Albert Camus's "The Stranger" >>

View Evgeniya Kashina's sketches for the film adaptation of Boleslav Prus's novel "The Pharaoh" >>

Read director Eduard Belyaev's review and the author's summary >>

Complements the exhibition's exposition a series of paintings created by Evgeniya Kashina specifically for the premiere of the Russian fantasy rock musical "The Last Test", The musical's composer is Anton Kruglov, lyricist is Elena Khanpira, and director and choreographer is Polina Menshikh. The premiere took place on April 12, 2014.

All paintings are available for purchase, or you can order a specific theme.

Evgenia Kashina on her participation in the musical "The Last Test":

"This wasn't an easy task. To paint pictures for a beloved musical, which were to serve as the backdrop for the set. Back in 2013, when I was invited to design the musical "The Last Test," the project was slowly getting off the ground with funds raised by fans. The location of the premiere and the original performances were still unknown. Neither the screen sizes on which my pictures would be projected nor the stage shapes were disclosed. I had to consider the possibility that part of the image might be cut off by the projector or obscured by the actors' silhouettes. The screen proportions were also unknown, and the pictures had to accommodate any potential distortion without causing any harm. Nevertheless, the pictures had to create the necessary atmosphere on each stage, expand the audience's and actors' ability to immerse themselves in the musical's content, enrich the onstage action with new meanings and allusions, and, of course, align with the director's vision. My work lasted about six months, but in the hall where the Prime Minister is, I saw the Prime Minister a couple of weeks beforehand, and then I had 24 hours to see the performance with the sets, try out the projector, and make some adjustments.”

View Evgeniya Kashina's paintings for the Moscow premiere of the musical "The Last Test" >> .