5th Fashion and Style Festival Highlights International Photographers in Moscow

The 5th edition of the Fashion and Style festival in Moscow (March 29–May 6, 2007) featured a mix of Russian and international photographers, with a noticeable emphasis on foreign artists. Despite the festival's aim to promote Russian photography, international works were deemed more interesting and received greater attention, including patronage from France and Britain. Exhibitions were held at prestigious venues like the Nouveau Manège (retrospectives of François-Marie Banier and Norman Parkinson) and the Ancien Manège (Jean Larivière and Jacques-Henri Lartigue). Russian photographers faced less favorable conditions due to the reconstruction of the Maison de la Photographie, directed by Olga Sviblova, which limited space for major retrospectives. Notable Russian presentations included a tribute to Lili Brik and Varvara Sharova's multidisciplinary work on the Sino-Russian border. New venues emerged, such as a former wine warehouse hosting "New Look. New Generation" featuring emerging fashion photographers, and the Petrovsky Passage showcasing "Drive Your Dream" with current Russian magazine fashion photography. Standout Russian talents included Yuri Molodkovets and Mikhail Korolev. The festival underscored the vitality of Moscow's photography scene, blurring genre boundaries.