HSE University Alumnae Launch an International Art Club

As undergraduates at HSE University, Aleksandra Sokolova studied International Relations and Sonia Stubblebine studied History of Art. However, they met each other not at HSE, but on the rooftop of one of Venice’s oldest palazzos while studying in different Master’s programmes. With the support of HSE Alumni the two alumnae created an international space for everyone who is interested in Arts and self-development.

The AN Art Club project includes online meetings with special speakers and candid talks on topics ranging from astrophotography and secret abandoned sites in the USSR to content marketing and impostor syndrome. ‘We don't want to limit ourselves to the field of art, says Aleksandra. — For example, in March we are collaborating with the project Sozavisimosti.net (‘No to Codependency’): together with graduates of the HSE School of Psychology we will discuss the topics of codependency and harmony with oneself in times of instability. We try to raise issues that affect different areas of human life: career, health, family, hobbies, etc. — like Meyer’s wheel of life.’

The project brings together lecturers and attendees from different countries. For example, a lecture on abstract art was given by the German abstractionist Oleg Komarov, and this month Lada Zueva from UNESCO Young Italy will give a talk on the ecology of art.

‘Since we have lived abroad, we understand that expats often lack interaction with people who share similar values and mindsets,’ the organisers say. ‘This is another aim of our project — to create a space for warm and open dialogue, because many people from HSE are also in different countries, without friends or relatives.’

All of the club's speakers are interested practitioners, experts in their field. In January, GITIS (Russian Institute of Theatre Arts) professor, actor, and director Yuri Vyazovsky gave a lecture on the Stanislavski method. ‘He subsequently donated a recording of the talk to students at Columbia University who are involved in Russian theatre and Russian culture. It gave us great pride,’ notes Sonia.

This spring, the club’s guests will be no less interesting. In April, a lecture will be given by art historian, journalist, and traveller Maxim Yudov, and also by Angelina Lucento, assistant professor of art history at HSE University. She will talk about the less obvious aspects of Andy Warhol's work.

There is a special offer for students, alumni and staff to attend club events.

Aleksandra Sokolova
Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs alumna

I actually grew up in a museum: from the 4th grade I attended various clubs at the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, at 16 I got my first experience working in a summer camp at the museum, and during my first year I gathered a team of volunteers for the ‘Fridays at the Pushkin’ project. Even though I graduated from the Bachelor’s Programme in International Relations, all my academic papers and my diploma were related to cultural diplomacy. After HSE University, I entered the Master's programme at the University of Bologna in ‘Innovation and Organisation of Culture and the Arts’. It was here, in Italy, that I met Sonia.

During the first lockdown, we often rang each other, ‘visited’ online exhibitions together, exchanged news, and in one of our conversations we had the idea of creating a live space to interact with people close to us in spirit.

Our club is unique in that each participant can communicate directly with the speaker. At the same time, the content we create cannot be Googled. For example, our lecturer Anastasia Garmash, who spoke about abandoned USSR sites, had an entire study devoted to this topic: she befriended the digging community, interviewed them and even wrote a book.

Sonia Stubblebine
HSE Faculty of Humanities alumna

I entered the ‘History of Art’ Bachelor’s Programme when it first appeared at HSE University, and I was the first from our department to go on an exchange programme to the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. It was a very cool experience! When I met Aleksandra, I was working at the Venice Biennale, and then I moved to Milan and started studying for a Master's degree in Contemporary Art Markets at NABA.

We have created a space where participants do not feel like they do not know something or are not experts in a particular field. Everyone can feel free to ask questions and engage in dialogue with the speaker.

In order to maintain this intimate atmosphere, we have made the club private: people can only enter by invitation from us or another participant. If you would like to become a resident or a speaker, complete an application form on our website. We will be happy to see anyone who is genuinely interested in learning new things.

March 11, 2021