«We are presenting a project that can be called a guide to a particular planet called the National Library of Belarus. Her life is so multifaceted, rich and unique that it is worthy of creating a separate and detailed atlas about her,» said Victoria Kharitonova, head of the Art exhibitions sector at the National Library.

The exhibition includes 44 images placed on 30 tablets. The author of the monochrome works is photographer Valery Nevmerzhitsky. Monochrome photographs refer to the prototype of modern photography — the medieval print run, which was used in geographical atlases and periodicals to preserve and capture moments of everyday life and explore new unique territories. The exhibition allows the viewer to travel from the main entrance to the famous rhombocuboctahedron to the observation deck, looking into the silence of the reading rooms, the holy of holies — the storage facility, restoration workshops and the Book Museum.
Vladislav Ruta, Chairman of the Belarusian Public Association of Photographers, noted the symbolism of the exhibition venue during the ceremony. «A library is books and paper. Photography in its classic incarnation is also paper. Thus, we become a kind of legal successors of the collective image of art and the memory of the people,» he stressed.

According to Vladislav Ruta, the author of the exhibition is a fine photographer who managed to convey the uniqueness of the library space in its navigation style through the lens — through parallels, meridians and the geometry of the design. The name «Library Atlas» carries a deep meaning and complexity.

«This name echoes the concept of cloud atlas, because today huge amounts of information are stored in digital clouds. On the other hand, atlas is a coordinate system that leads us through the labyrinths of entanglement to the right thoughts, ideas and solutions,» explained the chairman of the association.

Special attention at the exhibition is paid to the artistic content of the library. At one time, more than 100 leading craftsmen of the country took part in the design of the building.

«The National Library building itself is already a self-sufficient work of art. After 20 years, the object looks very fresh and relevant. Every time I cross this threshold, I feel a festive atmosphere and it’s like I’m reacquainting with the works of my friends and colleagues,» said Alexander Dranets, First Deputy chairman of the Belarusian Union of Artists and a sculptor.

At one time, he became the author of the monument to Francis Skarina erected in front of the library and one of the authors of the general decision on the decoration of the National Library of Belarus. The sculptor recalled that the contests for the architectural solution of the library and the creation of the monument to Francis Skarina were held almost simultaneously. «At one time, President Alexander Lukashenko combined these two projects — the creation of a monument to the first printer and the construction of a new library building. It was a gift of fate for us artists to realize such a large-scale project in our native land. This is one of the most successful examples of an organic synthesis of architecture and fine art,» emphasized Alexander Dranets.

The Library Atlas photo project not only introduces visitors to the modern life of the diamond of knowledge, but also replenishes the library’s collections, preserving the chronicle of the institution’s achievements for future generations. You can view the exhibition at the Atrium Gallery until June 28.