Diaghilev and the Ballets Russes Exhibition Opens in Washington
The National Gallery of Art in Washington is days away from launching an exhibit that chronicles the Ballets Russes, a collaboration that, through its high caliber of expression and unexpected collaborations, shaped art at the beginning of the 20th century. By blending art, dance, and music, this revolutionary movement gave birth to productions like “The Rite of Spring” and “Firebird,” which are now household names.
Ballets Russes productions combined both Russian and Western forms of dance and toured from 1909-1929. Sergei Diaghilev, the founder and director of the Ballets Russes, brought together innovators in the contemporary art world, managing to bridge the gap between performance art and fine art. Ballet had not included modernity prior to the Ballets Russes. Diaghilev took a classical genre and made it contemporary. The exhibit is fittingly titled “When Art Danced with Music.”
The exhibit celebrates mixed media and a cultural history brought to life by the sounds of Igor Stravinsky, the performances of Vaslav Nijinsky, the costumes of Henri Matisse and Coco Chanel, the set design of Natalia Goncharova, and the curtains of Pablo Picasso. The 12,000-square-foot exhibit will house 135 pieces of art, some of which will be the largest objects the museum has ever installed. Running from May 12 to September 2, the exhibit incorporates set pieces from several original productions, as well as a mix of art inspired by the Ballets.
Washington’s National Gallery of Art is located on the National Mall. The museum underwent construction in order to expand its walls and ceilings to make way for the Ballets Russes exhibit. It truly is a must-see.
For more information visit the website of The National Gallery of Art: Diaghilev and the Ballets Russes, 1909–1929: When Art Danced with Music
Image: Léon Bakst (designer), costumes for brigands in Fokine’s ballet Daphnis and Chloé, 1912. Victoria & Albert Museum, London
Mollie Rifkin finds energy in fashion and art, and understood her calling at a young age. The fix she got from reading her mother’s copies of Vogue while growing up led her to fashion writing. Mollie is passionate about scouting trends before they hit the streets and putting them into words. She sees fashion as wearable art and reports on style and culture, all the while exploring how the two are interrelated. Mollie is based in New York City.
