Citydog.by has chosen the best events of the week for foreigners in Minsk. You won’t need language skills for a single one of these activities, but you’ll still get to know the city better.
Exhibit: “I wanna be a contemporary artist”
When: Monday–Friday (10:00–22:00), Saturday–Sunday (12:00–24:00)
This is an exhibit of the work of Aleksander Veledimovich, a fascinating young photographer who loves to shoot everything personal: for example, in his “portrait with a story” series, Veledimovich offered to exchange portrait photos for strangers’ life stories, only choosing the most interesting ones. His new project is closer to a picture-diary, in which the artist captures the world around him and comes to the conclusion that “Modernity does not simply offer–it demands that everyone be unique.”
By the way, this exhibit is held in one of the most interesting places in Minsk: a gallery with a bar, bookshop, and small boutique with Belarusian hand-made goods.
Where: Gallery “Ў”, 37a Niezaležnasci avenue (пр-т Незалежнасці, 37a)
More information (in Russian): here
Entrance is free
Kassiopeya concert
When: Thursday, 19:00
This is one of the best bands in Belarus, and their witty synthpop is known and loved outside their homeland. Sad and uproarious songs about love, death, and wildness; outrageous costumes and makeup; songs from their most recent album and old hits, there are too many reasons not to skip this limitlessly strange and endlessly wonderful group’s performance.
Where: Graffiti pub, 16 Kalinina Lane (зав. Калініна, 16)
More information (in Russian): here
Entrance: 70 000 BYR (ahead of time), 100 000 BYR (at the door)
Film Showing: Hannah and Her Sisters
When: Friday, 19:00
This is the last film of what many consider to be Woody Allen’s gold age. Hannah and Her Sisters carefully combines all of its director’s strongest qualities: it’s a complex conversational comedy about the simple joys and misfortunes of ten or so adult men and women belonging to New York’s intellectual class. Allen himself remains a little in the background, but Michael Caine and Mia Farrow give one of the best performances in their already illustrious careers. The film, of course, is in the original language.
Where: Raketa (“Ракета”) movie theatre, 3 Rabočy Lane (зав. Рабочы, 3)
More information (in Russian): here
Entrance: 20 000 BYR
Season opening at the Botanical Gardens
When: Saturday, 10:00–18:00
This weekend the Botanical Gardens are opening for the new season–and they’re doing so with plenty of activities, probably in light of the upcoming Hockey World Championships. If you love competitions or even simply watching them, there will be several platforms with mock Olympic games, including agility relays, ingenuity contests and more. There will also be live music and a demonstration by the martial arts group Taipin.
But the Botanical Gardens are spacious and beautiful, so walking peacefully among huge trees and sitting on the grass will also be completely possible.
Where: Botanical Gardens, 2v Surhanava St. (вул. Сурганава, 2в)
More information (in Russian): here
Entrance: 30 000 BYR
“Vasanta” Indian Arts Festival
When: Sunday, starting at 17:00
At this festival you will be able to take in yoga and Indian dance, listen to Indian music, get free henna tattoos, find out more about astrology and Sanskrit, and much, much more. The exhibition of Indian art and music goes from 17:00 to 19:00, and entrance is free. At 19:00 an Indian dance gala-concert will begin; tickets cost 30 000 BYR.
Where: Palace of Children and Youth, 41 Staravilenski tract (Старавіленскі тракт, 41)
More information (in Russian): here
Entrance: 30 000 BYR
Фото: CityDog.by, tumblr.com.
