Nikola-Lenivets: From Rural Village to Renowned Art Park

Nikola-Lenivets is a small village in the Kaluga region, situated on the banks of the Ugra River. It has gained nationwide fame as the site of a vast (650 hectares) art park, which boasts a rich collection of architectural and artistic objects. The Nikola-Lenivets Art Park is part of the Ugra National Park. It hosts the annual festivals ‘Archstoyanie’ and ‘Night of New Media.’ Over the years, invited architects and artists have been exploring and transforming the banks of the Ugra River, the surrounding fields, forests, and villages. Despite the long journey, this annual festival draws thousands of urban residents. ‘Archstoyanie’ today encompasses not only land art but also performances, plays, and parties. However, the main attractions of the festival are indeed the objects themselves.

The park’s history is as diverse as its collection of art objects. As recently as 1989, Nikola-Lenivets was a typical Russian village on the riverbank – nearly abandoned, with a dilapidated church and a static way of life. This deserted place, in every sense, appealed to architect Vasily Shchetinin and his fellow ‘Mitki‘ (a socio-aesthetic movement from the 1980s), who essentially settled here. They created art for their own enjoyment and for the locals, who gradually became involved in the process.

Art objects typically did not last long, so they are remembered only through photographs. The first permanent object, the ‘Lighthouse’ by Nikolai Polissky, was built in 2004 and has become a symbol of Nikola-Lenivets. It stands at 18 meters tall. Interestingly, no nails were used in its construction; it is supported solely by a metal frame.

The idea of an art festival gradually emerged, fueled by the creative potential of the artist group and the intrinsic power of the location. The first ‘Archstoyanie’ in Nikola-Lenivets took place in 2006, named after the Great Stand on the Ugra River. During this period, ‘The Ear’ and ‘The Barn’ were created in the park. Since the inception of ‘Archstoyanie,’ it has become the main event, not only in the Kaluga region but arguably throughout the European part of Russia. Annually, architects, artists, and creative youth from various fields create both temporary and permanent objects. In 2009, abandoned lands were transformed into a veritable ‘Versailles’ by landscape designers.

Later, the Nikola-Lenivets Art Park gained a patron in entrepreneur Maxim Nogotkov. With his active involvement, hotels, campsites, and eateries were constructed, establishing a solid infrastructure. Subsequently, the artists’ cooperative built large-scale objects ‘Universal Mind’ and ‘Bobur.’

How to get there

By Bus: From Kaluga by bus to Kondrovo, then by taxi.
By Bus: From Moscow, take the bus from the ‘Teply Stan’ metro station on the ‘Moscow – Kondrovo’ route (daily at 14:30), then take a taxi.
Address:
Nikola-Lenivets Village, Kaluga Region, Russia

Website:
nikola-lenivets.ru