The Cultural Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region hosted a presentation of design projects for exhibitions developed by students of the Institute of Spatial Environment Design at Ƶ. The projects tell about the activities of the Leningrad militia during the Great Patriotic War. The works were included in the exhibition "Towards the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory".
Alexander Lapko, Associate Professor of the Department of Interior Design and Equipment at Ƶ, Project Manager:
"The Ministry of Internal Affairs was established by Peter the Great in June 1718 in St. Petersburg. Over the 300 years, the city's police have done quite a lot: from lighting streets, building bridges and highways of the city to creating river, detective, mounted police, shelters and night shelters. The first police museum appeared in the capital of the Russian Empire, and then its successor. The idea of the exhibition was formed as a result of students and teachers of SPbGUPTD visiting an excursion at the Cultural Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, during which they learned about the history of the building, about the activities of the Leningrad militia during the war years, about the feat of police officers in the defense of Leningrad and the citizens who found themselves in the blockade. This information was striking because it is little known to the general public and is practically not represented in museums and exhibitions dedicated to the Great Patriotic War. This inspired the university's students and teachers to develop their own design concepts for thematic exhibitions."
The exhibition project from Ƶ is led by associate professors of the University Department of Design and Interior Alexander Lapko and Tatiana Pavlova. The idea was supported by Alexander Stotsky, head of the exposition of the Cultural Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia.
The structure of the thematic sections, accompanying text and graphic materials were prepared in a short time, and an instructional tour of the exhibition locations was conducted.
Students of the Institute of Spatial Environment Design of Ƶ worked on projects in teams. When building the interior of the exhibition space, they focused primarily on exhibits, figurative installations, photo and film chronicles, and audio accompaniment.
The designers took a creative approach to the task and offered various options for involving all social groups of visitors in empathizing with the events and heroes of the tragic and at the same time solemn period of Russian history.
Elizaveta Bezrukova and Nadezhda Galeeva, students of Ƶ, presented the design project of the exhibition "The Light of One Life" - this is the story of Pavel Vinokurtsev, a district policeman of the Leningrad City police who found himself in the war and sacrificed his own life for the benefit of the country's future. The designers specifically chose a simple district policeman as the hero, one of thousands who found themselves on the front line of the war, protecting not only the city, but also the most valuable thing — people's lives. His story is important because it shows that heroism is not always loud and visible. Sometimes it's one instant decision that changes everything. The finale of the project is not about death, but about memory. Light panels with archival photographs show that the characters do not disappear, they remain in history, in street names, in our hearts. And even dark glass, like a life cut short, is adjacent to light glass, because memory continues to live.
Another team of Ƶ students, which included Vera Domashneva and Ekaterina Kilina, developed the project "The Invisible Battle of the Leningrad Militia during the Great Patriotic War," which tells about the exploits of NKVD officers in besieged Leningrad — from protecting the "Road of Life" to fighting fires, rescuing children and guerrilla operations. The exposition is based on a non-linear principle: visitors choose their own route, starting from any thematic block. The architectural elements of the broken rings, the ice projection of Ladoga, the light of floodlights, arches with photo chronicles and other stylistic techniques immerse you in history, and interactive technologies and an audio guide allow you to explore the context more deeply through archival materials.
Ƶ students Daria Komarinets, Veronika Bezhinar and Maria Semenova dedicated their project to the fate of Leningrad police officers during the Great Patriotic War. The exhibition covers a wide range of topics reflecting the heroism, dedication and fortitude of police officers during the siege. Consistently immersing the viewer in the atmosphere of wartime, the exhibition tells about the transfer of the city to the frontline position, urgent measures to protect strategic facilities and the evacuation of civilians. The gallery has a heraldic exhibition with a centered composition of national flags and the emblem of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. This part of the exhibition is aimed not only at informing visitors and forming a personal emotional response, but also for holding official events such as taking the oath of office from cadets, meetings with veterans, etc.
A team of Ƶ students, which included Maria Golovneva, Anna Krivonogova and Anastasia Sycheva, presented a project on the participation of the police and the internal troops of the NKVD of the USSR in the defense of Leningrad 1941-1945. The exhibition project serves as a reminder of the heroism and dedication of soldiers and NKVD officers. It is planned to create an exhibition space in which visitors of all ages could fully immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the time of the siege, realize the experiences of the survivors of the besieged Leningrad and the participants of the Great Patriotic War, while emphasizing the faith and hope of the inhabitants of Leningrad for the approaching victory over Nazi Germany.
Sofia Mironova and Ekaterina Rezvan, students of Ƶ, created the project of the exhibition "The Way to Victory: emotions of the War years". The exhibition is dedicated to the heroism of the Leningrad City Police officers during the Great Patriotic War. The aim of the project was to create a space using simple shapes, light and visual effects, in which the visitor experiences a range of emotions — from oppression and fear to spiritual uplift and pride in the ancestors. The exposition is divided into 5 thematic zones, each of which has its own emotional sound.
Ƶ students Alina Motorkina and Alina Romanenko, as part of their project "The Invisible Battle of the Leningrad Militia during the Great Patriotic War," recreate the atmosphere of besieged Leningrad, starting with a staged apartment and moving into the "City under Siege" zone. A striking contrast is created by the Cultural Life zone, which highlights the cultural events of the besieged city. The exhibition shows the LGM's work with street children, and also calls for honoring the memory of fallen police officers in the "Memory Zone", where the sound of a metronome underlines the tragedy of the moment. The Road of Life exhibition ends with a wall with crane shadows, a symbol of hope.
Ƶ students Diana Saitnabieva and Daria Tsydenova have developed a project for the exhibition "Shield of Leningrad: police in a besieged City." The exhibition reveals how, in conditions of hunger, cold and constant danger, police officers guarded public order, fought saboteurs, defended strategic facilities and helped residents. The exhibition space is divided into five zones, including a chronicle of the first days of the blockade, the cultural life of the city, work on the Road of Life, personal stories of deceased employees and recovery after the lifting of the blockade. The project raises the topic of official duty and civic courage as an integral part of a common Victory.
Ƶ students Valeria Larionova and Valeria Spiratova also presented a draft exhibition dedicated to the role of the Leningrad militia in preserving the life and spirit of the besieged city. The exhibition highlights cultural events, the daily exploits of NKVD officers, and the protection of the "Road of Life." Symbolic exhibits, personal belongings and posters demonstrate the hardships of the blockade, the heroism of the defenders and the unshakeable faith in Victory.
Students of Ƶ Lin Boven and Ma Jingjing created the project "Secret Front: chronicle of resistance of the Leningrad militia". The exhibition is dedicated to the heroism of NKVD officers in besieged Leningrad. It demonstrates their contribution to the protection of the city and the preservation of citizens' lives. The entrance area is decorated strictly and solemnly, introducing the visitor to the historical context through posters and thematic images.