Festival “Ethnomir of Sakhalin”

On June 10, the festival “Ethnomir of Sakhalin”, dedicated to the International Decade of the Languages of the Indigenous Peoples of the World, was held with great success at the Mayak Art Residence. For several hours, the participants were immersed in the world of the original and unique culture of the indigenous ethnic groups of the North.

“Our island region is constantly working to revive and preserve the national heritage of the indigenous peoples of the North. Cultural institutions are developing and implementing interesting and promising projects,” Nonna Lavrik, Minister of Culture and Archives of the Sakhalin Region, noted in her welcoming speech, presenting the Sakhalin Regional Center of Folk Art with the Honorary Standard of the Governor of the Sakhalin Region for carrying out effective activities in the Sakhalin Region and a special contribution to the implementation of the social policy of the Sakhalin region.

After the grand opening, interactive platforms aimed at all categories of viewers began their work on the territory of the art residence. From the abundance of proposed events, each guest of the festival was able to find something to his liking. At the exhibition-fair of decorative and applied arts, the masters presented works of folk art: wood products, fish skin, fur, author’s dolls and souvenirs. Also for the guests of the event there was a book exhibition dedicated to the language and culture of the Sakhalin Oblast KMNS, an exhibition of children’s drawings based on fairy tales of the peoples of the North.

Specialists of the Sakhalin Regional Special Library for the Blind presented an exhibition of works published in special formats for the blind and visually impaired.

Each guest could appreciate the unusual tastes and aromas of tea at the tasting of phyto-teas from the elder of the ancient Koivongun family – Efrosinia Shkalygina, attend the presentations of her book “Legends of the Tymovskaya Valley”. Children learned about the interesting collection of fairy tales “Chipta Chiri”, and adults talked with a member of the Union of Writers of Russia Nikolai Tarasov about the books “The Epic of the Sakhalin Nivkhs” (author V.M. Sangi) and “Elgun hunter” (author N.V. Solovyov).
In the basement, all those present tested their ingenuity in the game “Scrabble” in the Nivkh language and played national games, and then were able to enjoy the display of the immersive laboratory project “Nivkhgu”.

Within the framework of the festival, a master class “Collage Movement” was held, as well as a competition “Ethno Collage Movement” and a drawing contest “Tell me your fairy tale, Sakhalin”, the winners of which were not left without awards.

“Sand animations” (work on a sand table) were held for young guests.

Member of the Union of Writers of Russia Elena Namakonova and artist of the novel “Tugun. The winner of two suns” Ekaterina Zakharova (creative pseudonym Holda) from the Lipetsk region shared the secrets of creating a book. Ekaterina also held a master class on drawing manga based on the folklore of the peoples of the North of Sakhalin.

For those who want to learn an unusual craft, master classes were held on embroidery of the Nivkh ornament, making ethnic-themed jewelry, national souvenirs made of fish skin, beads, wood. The guests of the festival also took part in master classes on playing national instruments.

Especially popular was the virtual 3-D exhibition of decorative and applied art products of the KMNS, which was prepared jointly with the Technopark “Quantorium” of Gymnasium No. 3.

Those interested were able to show their creative abilities in applying graffiti under the guidance of Ruslan Avershin and students of the College of Arts.
The focus of attention of residents and guests of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, of course, was the fashion show of costumes “Connection of traditions and times” of the public organization “Patchwork Island”, as well as the presentation of the collection of clothes “Sakhalin Style” of the family and tribal community of the KMNS “TUKHSH” (“Fire”).

The ensembles “People of the Myth” (“People of Sakhalin”) of the hands immersed the audience in the ethnic atmosphere. Natalia Moon, “Mangume ilga” (“Silver patterns”) hands. Olga Reznik, “Anime” hands. Alexander Volodin, artists of the ethnic project “Ler Myth” (“The Playing land”) of the pop-satirical “Quartet OF SOULS” hands. Evgenia Todika and Sakhalin singer, songwriter Irina Ikonnikova.

An exclusive screening of archival film materials about representatives of indigenous minorities of the North of the Sakhalin region, provided by the State Historical Archive of the Sakhalin Region, transported the festival guests to the past.

The project “Ethno-World of Sakhalin” took place thanks to the collaboration of cultural institutions of the island region and creative people of the city and region.