Lace and daggers: the exhibition "Handmade" opened in Nizhny Novgorod

      NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" - Alexandra Turovskaya The exhibition of folk arts and crafts "The Work of Hands" (6+) opened in Nizhny Novgorod on June 15. A correspondent from NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" attended the closed preview of the exhibition. The exhibition unfolded across two floors of the cultural center "Record." According to the organizers, the project is a call to rethink the place of folk arts and crafts in modern culture. It invites a view of handmade art as a connection between family members, the continuity of generations, and the transmission of life wisdom.

      "The Work of Hands" combines three programs - exhibition, educational, and interactive. On the first floor, the exhibits are displayed - bright toys from Gorodets, icons with metal decorations from Vorsma, Khokhloma vases and matryoshkas from Semyonov, colorful musical instruments from Balakhna, skillful daggers and knives from Vorsma, elegant cutlery from Pavlovo, and many other treasures of the region.

      As Elena Krayushkina, the general director of the Folk Arts and Crafts Development Fund of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, explained, the hall features works from 23 enterprises. Some of them, continuing the traditions of their fathers and grandfathers, have been operating for four and five generations.

      "Our task is not only to showcase the beauty of the products but also to fill them with deep meaning. The meaning that our ancestors passed on to us by creating this unique heritage. Each item of folk arts and crafts carries meanings and signs that can be read; each is dedicated in one way or another to a significant event in a person's life: the birth of a child, a wedding, the gathering of a dowry, or setting a festive table for the whole family," noted Elena Krayushkina.

      On the second floor, a photo exhibition captures those magical moments when artisans create unique works of art with their hands. In these photos, skillful, calloused fingers weave lace patterns on bobbins or assemble wooden boxes, blow glass Christmas ornaments, or temper blades for future daggers.

      The main task is to pass knowledge to the younger generation. Nizhny Novgorod has the status of the capital of folk crafts, with international festivals held annually; we have a Square of Folk Crafts and even an anthem. Such a phenomenon does not exist in any other region of the Russian Federation," said Nikolai Smirnov, president of the Folk Arts and Crafts Development Fund of the Nizhny Novgorod Region.

      As part of the educational program, guests can expect lectures on the history of folk arts and crafts, the connection between traditions and contemporary art, the symbolism of Nizhny Novgorod window frames, and how "Russian" becomes fashionable. Meetings are planned with factory directors, chief artists, and masters who have dedicated their lives to their craft, as well as with designers who use the "secret code of the Nizhny Novgorod region" in modern products.

      The interactive part of the exhibition is equally engaging - workshops on toy painting, accessory making, silk-screen printing, wreath weaving, and other areas of folk crafts. Some traditional workshops will be conducted by honored artists of the Russian Federation.

      "We have long wanted to gather the city's guests and our residents so they could see the beauty and crafts that we not only preserve but also continue to develop. So that each participant can touch the craftsmanship of those people who pass this heritage down from generation to generation," emphasized Natalia Gvilia, deputy minister of tourism and crafts of the Nizhny Novgorod region.

      The exhibition "The Work of Hands" will continue at the cultural center "Record" until July 10. Admission is free, but prior registration is required for attending workshops. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has channels on Telegram and MAX. Subscribe to stay updated on major events, exclusive materials, and timely information. Copyright © 1999—2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod". When republishing, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain materials 18+.