Abstract: This article is devoted to peculiarities of artist profession in China during the era of Northern Song (960 - 1127). The subject of the research is the biographies of artists who worked in Kaifeing, the capital of the Northern Song, in the late X - first half of the XIst century. The aim of the research is to outline a portrait of a professional artist in China of the aforesaid period. The author of the article analyzes such sides of artist's life as professional training, specialization in a particular style of painting, professional unions of artists and means of making a living. The results of the analysis demonstrate that the era of Northern Song had a favorable environment for professional artists in Kaifeing. Artists who did not serve for the Imperial Court could make their living by decorating city temples, selling their artwork at urban markets, and making private orders. High demand for paintings in Kaifeng created plenty of opportunities for artists to sell their artwork. 

Keywords: interior decoration, private patron, specialization, craft, professional artist, Chinese painting, Kaifeng, Northern Song, scroll painting, sale of paintings

Abstract: In her article Belova analyzes the aesthetical value of nature, in particular, the role of flowers in European and Japanese art of the XVth - early XXth century. The researcher focuses on symbolism of flowers, general expressive patterns that symbolise the nature's circle and transience of flowers in the world as well as their philosophical, religious and mystical meaning. The subject of the research is blue flowers viewed by the author as part of the developing symbolism and metaphoric message in European and Japanese fine arts of the XVth - early Xxth century. In her research Belova has use comparative and iconological research methods based on previously published philosophical, cultural and historical researches. The research rationale is explained by the growing cultural contacts between Eastern countries, particulary Japan, and Europe, and the intention of both cultures to keep their national specific features. The author of the article attempts to compare European and Japanese fine arts, to describe symbolism of flowers, its aesthetical meaning and allegorical message, to emphasize the nature of symbolic images of blue flowers. The researcher makes the following conclusion: religious and mystical features are more typical for European painting while Japanese painting puts artistic expression of feelings above religion. This is expressed in the aesthetical perception of the colour palette.  

Keywords: Buddhism, Japanese painting, impressionism, blue, iris, symbolism, religious orientation, beauty, perfection, flower

Abstract: The purpose of this article is to reconstruct the ideas of self-government and self-organization of the society developed by Russian philosophers of the XIXth century. To analyze the ideas of self-government and self-organization, it is necessary to study their concepts of social self-government. Russia's political system of those times needed modernization, therefore conceptual constructs of scientists and politicians were practically important and satisfied the society's need in social order and social stability. Russian philosophy of the XIXth century demonstrated special interest in self-government. Russia was going through difficult times back in those period which had certain positive and negative consequences. Russian self-government went a long way of development from the point of view of history, cultural research, theory, politics and social philosophy. The self-government system included social and historical events that satisfied the need in social order and social stability. 

Keywords: Russian self-government, seventies populists, revolutionary democrats, Slavophiles, philosophical discourse, self-organization and self-government, Russia's political system, philosophy, society, cultural studies

Abstract: Gustav Klucis is well-known as the founder of photomontage, art theorist and lecturer. However, his early years of life are left understudied due to the absence or non-availability of archive data. According to the author, to get a fuller image of the artist and his artwork, it is necessary to get acquainted with the other side of his biography, i.e. revolutionary activity and service as a Latvian rifleman, one of the best support of the Bolsheviks. That was the period that created a unique environment for two completely different professions, soldier and artist, to complement. A hundred of years after the October Revolution, researchers are especially interested in the first years of Soviet government that was marked with the tremendous growth and development of artistic life. The subject of the research is the life path of Gustav Klucis, the Latvian rifleman and artist, dedicated Bolshevik and member of the Moscow Kremlin gun regiment. Certainly, the experience in revolution, being in the center of great historical events, meetings with Vladimir Lenin affected Klucis' life values and painting style. The main research method used by Guseva in this article is the analysis of Russia's, Latvia's and Greece's archives. The novelty of the research is caused by the fact that she analyzes and describes facts of Gustav Klucis' biography that are left understudied or often misinterpreted. The outcome of the research is the integral image of Gustav Klucis as an artist and Latvian rifleman based on the complete analysis of his biography. 

Keywords: Soviet artist, Latvia, photomontage, Latvian rifleman, Latvian riflemen, political poster, poster, Gustav Klucis, Klucis, montage

Abstract: The subject of the research is the Orthodox wedding ritual as a system of cultural values of a modern society. The author examines such aspects of the topic as the liturgical symbolism and church canon of the wedding ceremony. Bogdanova describes such features of the Orthodox church wedding as devotion to canon, cyclic nature and sacred meaning. The researcher also focuses on the traditions and folk rituals of wedding in a modern society and emphasizes archaic (pre-Christian) symbols and beliefs during preparation and celebration of the wedding. The research methodology is based on the comparative historical method. The main research methods are analysis, synthesis, observation, comparison of modern realities and traditional rituals. The main conclusions of the research are the following: today's Orthodox wedding ritual remains unchanged as compared to the early Christian canon of church wedding. All the symbols used during the church wedding are of sacred nature and Christian-centered. Modern wedding ritual reflects both ancient beliefs and traditions and influence of modern fashion. 

Keywords: modern transformations, archaic beliefs, church canon, liturgical symbolism, beliefs, rituals, cultural values, tradition, christocentricity, transitional stage

Abstract: Anthropophagic trend of Latin American culture appeared at the very first days of colonization and determined the relevant strategy. At the beginning of the XXth century Oswald de Andrade, the poet, offered a new definition of anthropophagy comparing cannibalism to cultural assimilation processes. The anthropophagic approach to creation and interpretation of art is based on the processes of transformation, appropriation and exchange of cultural values. The idea of Oswald de Andrade's Anthropophagic Manifest was going through changes throughout the century. With time, changes in the socio-political environment transformed aims and methods of substitution, sometimes the matter and actor of an anthropophagic act changed places. However, anthropophagy still remains of great interest to artists, critics, historians and art experts and even managed to go above the modernistic origin and became part of post-structuralism and post-modernism. The fact that the anthropophagic theory is still famous is due to its exposure to changes and capability of becoming part of both art and political agenda. For the first time in the Russian cultural studies, the author of the article analyzes the transformation of the concept of anthropophagy in the culture of Brazil of the XXth century. Moreover, the researcher studies the anthropophagic approach to the creation and interpretation of artwork. The pieces of artwork analyzed by the author in this article has never been studied by cultural researchers before. Thus, the article may be of interest for those researchers who are interested in Latin America's art and Latin American culture and history in general.   

Keywords: contemporary art of Brasil, conceptual art, conceptual art of Latin America, cultural identity, conceptual art of Brazil, anthropophagic manifest, Anthropophagy, brasilian conceptualism, anthropophagic theory, identity

Abstract: The article is devoted to the definition of 'art space' that is usually opposed to a traditional concept of space. Rozin analyzes the process and stages of the development of art space as part of the scheme theory. In particular, Rozin studies four stages of how views on art space have developed. At the first stage the archaic culture created schemes that described various kinds of animals and humans. The second stage was the stage of ancient kingdoms that developed the method of depicting extended spaces by layering one kinds over others. The third stage, the era of Renaissance, represented the concept of one-point perspective, and the concept of reverse perspective was developed at the fourth stage. Rozin also focuses on cultural circumstances and schemes that contributed to the development of art space at all four stages. The researcher has used the following methods: problem statement, situtional analysis, comparative analysis, statement of definitions and description of the process and visual imagery argumentation. As a result of the research, the author has defined the term 'art space' and described four stages of its development as well as demonstrated the dependence of ideas about art space on the cultural environment (worldview and type of communication) as well as space schematization (schemes and means of operation with it). 

Keywords: length, subject, type, formation, becoming, art, scheme, space, personality, culture

Abstract: The synthesis of materials in arts and crafts is a rather understudied topic in modern researches. The aim of this research is to analyze the synthesis of ceramics and metal as an independent trend of arts and crafts and relation of such artwork to other kinds of art and design as well as the influence of technology on the creation of an integral art image as a result of organic synthesis of two different materials. By saying so, the authors of the article mean the creation of a completely new artistic phenomenon that influence the material, aesthetic and spiritual spheres of human life. The methodology of the research is based on complex combination of art history and cultural research methods as well as the authors' practical experience. The researchers have also carried out historical comparison and stylistic analysis of different decorative compositions as well as touched upon the technological aspect of the matter. In their article the authors have attempted full analysis and generalisation of the research matter, i.e. synthesis of materials (metal and ceramics have been chosen as an example) in arts and crafts. As a result of their research, the authors have described typical features of creation of artwork out of ceramics and metal, their specific features, aesthetics and functions played at different time periods. The researchers have also outlined general trends of changes in the sphere of expressive means related to the change in the perception of artists and the use of new production technologies and methods of form making. Modern decorative art is more humanities-oriented, focused on the inner world of a person and has the emotional and imaginary role prevailing over traditional craft functions. 

Keywords: art ceramics, art metal, synthesis of DPI materials, craft, design, arts and crafts, work of art, art-object, technology, master