Art-park "Nikola-Lenivets": how to get from Moscow, description and interesting facts

Art adorns life, expresses the aspirations of creators, interprets reality and encourages people who are not involved in creative research, to look beyond the boundaries of ordinary life, to understand that the fabric of the universe is much brighter and more complex. Picture galleries, exhibition halls, festivals are events where you can always come at a certain time, and there with pleasure will explain what the artist meant and what promises he generates his work. Where it is more interesting to immerse yourself in the creative space and find answers yourself, wake up your fantasy, call your own dreams, looking at works where there are no tags on which the recipe of understanding is written. Art Park "Nikola-Lenivets" is one of the sites where freedom is equivalent to nature, and the visitor is an active generator of meanings.

Ab ovo

The village of Nikola-Lenivets counts its existence, according to the first mentions in written testimonies, from the 3rd century BC. The usual village of Russia, what a lot, except that the name is funny. It is located on the territory of the national park Ugra, where nature is preserved untouched, here are protected places with the beautiful Ugra river and natural landscapes. The first mention of the village and the beginning of her fame to contemporaries are associated with the name of the artist Nikolai Polissky.

Moving away from participation in the creative group "Mitkov" in 1997, Polissky began to create in the genre of land art from 2000 and is by far the most famous Russian artist of this direction. The first installation, which brought noisy fame to the new role of Polissky and the village of Nikola-Lenivets, was called "Snowmen".

Snowmen on the Ugra

To implement the first land art project, the artist drew his supporters and villagers. On the slope of the Ugra River, two hundred snow-clad traditional snowmen lined the winter season. In the spring they melted, which became a continuation of the history, after which the space of Nikola the Sloth-man became a refuge for free artists, where native Bohemia and guests from abroad come.

Why Polissky drew attention to the work with natural materials, he explains himself: "I just always loved nature and how the painter wrote insipidly different landscapes. And then I thought: should I start working in this very space and with the elements of this space? ". Gradually, the works of many creators on the protected lands began to appear the most diverse art objects that made up a unique site, spread out over a vast territory.

In 2006, Polissky initiated and hosted the first festival "Archstoyanie", which became an annual event in the national park. Since 2010, when the project became commercialized, and all surrounding lands were concentrated in the hands of M. Nogotkov, the initiator of the festival and the first installations, Nikolay Polissky, withdrew from participation in the life of the park.

The first art objects

Art-park "Nikola-Lenivets" occupies the territory of 600 hectares, where there are sculptures, objects created by artists from different countries. It is unlikely to see everything in one day, the distances between installations are rather large, but the chances of stumbling upon a sculpture in the forest or in the open space are bribed by surprise. The symbol of the park was the sculpture "Mayak" by N. Polissky. It is installed on the bank of the Ugra and serves as an identification and welcome sign to every traveler seeking a road. "Mayak" is a high construction made of natural materials, where an observation deck is provided, from which you can see the surrounding space and the old dilapidated local church of the Holy Trinity.

Before you start, it is worthwhile to understand what the "Nikola-Lenivets" consists of. How to get from Moscow? Only following the signals of "Lighthouse", listening to your inner voice and not turning off the road to Kaluga.

Since 2006, the "Grigoryan Saray" building has settled in the park, it is one of the oldest objects. To appreciate the idea of building it is possible at night, when the light is turned on inside and it bursts out of 200 thousand small holes. Many argue that the spectacle is mystical.

Ark and ears

Park Nikola-Lenivets has its own hearing, at least an object symbolizing the ear, in its territory was established by the authors of the project V. Savinkin and V. Kuzmin. It is a half-closed sphere with a platform where, settling in a comfortable position, you can hear silence.

The conditions of the natural park and the protected zone dictate the principles of creating sculptures and the material for their creation. "Shishkin House" is a non-trivial construction from the artist Adrian Geze (Netherlands). On the general background, it stands out with utmost simplicity and utilitarianism - it consists entirely of cones collected in the forest, the shape is supported by a metal frame with small cells. On the wall it is convenient to lie, supplement or replace the building material, if you want to become a co-author of the park "Nikola-Lenivets" (Kaluga region).

"Golden Taurus", symbolizing on Wall Street the worship of Mammon, in the wilds of "Nikola the Sloth" acquires the opposite meaning due to the artist V. Schetinin. His art object is called "Gilded Taurus" and recalls the brigantine of distant wanderings rather. According to the author, the sculpture symbolizes the biblical ark of salvation, the unity of generations from ancient times to modern times. To confirm the laid idea in the catwalk, the dovecote and an observation deck, accessible to every visitor, are arranged.

Mixing of times and meanings

"Bobur" is another mysterious object in the park "Nikola-Lenivets". How to get from Moscow to the Paris quarter of Beaubourg, it is now known: you need to go to Kaluga. Interestingly, the creation of the massive sculpture "Bobur" N. Polissky inspired the old quarter of the French capital, where the Gallery of Contemporary Art named after Georges Pompidou. What associations it causes in each visitor, the matter is purely individual. Someone sees the trunks of elephants, someone - the communications of the Parisian galleries, and some hear the sound of Jericho pipes.

In the vicinity of the village of Nikola-Lenivets (Kaluga region), where archaeologists have found ancient sites of ancient people of the third century BC, the visitor finds himself in a special atmosphere, becoming the acting face of the "Gorodische" installation of the Polissky N. Work. Descended from the rock paintings of caves. In the forest, the prehistoric moose hides and the structure rises, which can be taken for the skeleton of a house with a horse in the shape of an ancient beast.

Rotunda and others

The park "Nikola-Lenivets" always surprises, especially the unprepared spectator. Wandering around the area, it is worth entering the Brodsky Rotunda. The structure is in the field, on a raised platform and visible from afar. It is an oval two-storey building made of wood, where on the first floor the entrance is at any point, since the walls consist of opening doors. They were collected all over the district in old abandoned houses. Immediately any traveler can rekindle the hearth, and climbing the gallery of the second floor, admire the surroundings of the numerous windows. Field around the object is annually sown with buckwheat or sunflowers.

Is there a universal mind, or is this concept born of a human desire to animate nature - a mystery that N. Polissky interpreted because of his talent and understanding. The installation is deployed on several hectares near the village of Nikola-Lenivets. How to get from Moscow and get answers to the exciting universal human issues is now clear: the road to answers lies through their ideas, and maybe misconceptions.

Infrastructure

In the park "Nikola-Lenivets" for several years, developed infrastructure for excursions and comfortable rest. You can come here all year round, for which all conditions are created. Fans of wild rest are given places in the camping with their tent, more civilized option for the summer stay - wooden houses. There are two of them: "Tansy" and "St. John's Wort".

In winter, the hostel "Kazarma" is suitable for holidaymakers, accommodation is possible all year round. Cost per week for one person starts from 900 rubles per night, and on weekends and holidays the price is 1600 rubles / night.

Guest house "Klever" or 2 cottages built near the park in Koltsovo. Accommodation in cottages starts from 1900 rubles. For one night on weekdays, in the weekend the cost will be from 3500 rubles. overnight. There is Wi-Fi, unguarded parking, a bathroom is located either in the room or on the floor, depending on the category of the room.

There is always the opportunity to settle with local residents in the village of Nikola-Lenivets. How to get from Moscow by private transport? On the Kaluga road before turning on the towns of Seny, Ostrozhnoe and then follow the signs. The territory of the park can be traveled on foot, which will take more time to visit all the facilities, or you can use the bike rental service and consider all the interesting installations, and at the same time improve your health.

How to get to Nikola-Lenivtsa with the purpose to spend a few days and not stay hungry? Several items are provided with food: a dining room in Koltsovo, a cafe "Ugra", vegetarians will be approached by a cafe located in the eco-camping "Zvizzhanka", it will be interesting for everyone to visit the salad bar on the farm. Farm, another object for research, will be interesting to all who want to buy products grown with the use of only natural fertilizing and protection. And those who want to learn experience, it is worth living with the owners and working as a volunteer.

Reflecting on how to get to Nikola-Lenivets and what to do there in winter, it is worth considering that this is a zone of free manifestation of each person and closeness to the nature of many makes children. To do this, the park has all the conditions: skating, skiing, sledging. In the summer, besides walking, cycling, it's nice to fish or go for mushrooms.

How to get there?

Traveling around the country, to look into the reserved places is always worth it. How to get to the art-park "Nikola-Lenivets"? On own transport from Moscow it is necessary to go about three hours along the Kaluga road, the distance is about 220 km. The route details are as follows:

• On the Kiev highway, drive about 170 km before turning to Kaluga.
• From the post of DPS, on which "Kaluga" is written in large letters, turn to Medyn (to the right) and drive to Kondratovo.
• In the town turn towards Senya Ostrozhnoe and get to the T-shaped intersection.
• At the intersection, choose the direction to the left and drive to the humpback crossing (bridge) through the railway tracks.
• Drive to the village Ostrozhny, where at the roundabout (large) turn left.
• When the sign "with. Zwizzy ", turn right, on the primer, and go down from the steep hill to the park" Nikola-Lenivets ".

Public transport can be reached in the following way:

• Railway - from the Kiev station on the train to the station. Maloyaroslavets or Kaluga-1, then take a taxi.
• Bus: from the station. Metro "Teply Stan" by the bus, the next route Moscow - Kondrovo, then take a taxi.