Yesterday, April 7, students from the Faculty of Architecture visited the "Code of Myths" exhibition project at the National Library of Belarus. Mikhail Kitaev, Acting Head of the Department of Theory and History of Architecture, accompanied the students on their tour.
The exhibition combined ancient and Belarusian mythological themes, featuring over 200 exhibits: from rare books and graphic works to sculptures and elements of national costume. The project's metaphor was the trade route "from the Varangians to the Greeks," which served as a symbol of cultural exchange.
A special place in the exhibition was given to the academic work of first-year students from the BNTU Faculty of Architecture's Department of Theory and History of Architecture. This is the result of painstaking work using the technique of "washing" architectural monuments—a classic school of hand-drawn graphics. Among the students' works on display are detailed depictions of the St. Bridget Monastery in Grodno and the Holy Dormition Cathedral in Vitebsk.
– These projects are completed in the first year. Students select an object and find all the necessary drawings: plans, elevations, sections, and perspective views. Next, everything is assembled on a 55x75 tablet and the drawing process begins. After this, the process of "washing" with ink begins, taking into account the light and shadows to reveal all the planes and volumes of the building, – explained Mikhail Kitaev.
According to Mikhail Igorevich, the first year focuses on hand-drawn rendering. This allows students to develop a "feel" for form and work professionally with graphics even before they move on to using computer programs in their senior years.
The exhibition vividly demonstrates the shared values and values of different peoples, and art itself serves as a living bridge between cultures, enriching them with new visual images.
