Looking to Space: BRICS Universe International Photo Exhibition Opens in Mumbai

The BRICS Universe exhibition officially opened at the National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA) on 11 September. Attending the event in Mumbai were Hero of the Russian Federation and Cosmonaut Pilot Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, Deputy Consul General of the Russian Federation in Mumbai Maxim Aleshin, NCPA Chairman Khushroo N. Suntook, and Director of the Mumbai Planetarium Arvind Paranjpye.

In addition to the unique photographs, the event programme also included the screening of a film about the achievements of modern Russian cosmonautics and a small game of trivia.

The opening of night the exhibition, which will continue in Mumbai until 28 September, ended with an opportunity to meet and get an autograph from Hero of the Russian Federation and Cosmonaut Pilot Sergey Kud-Sverchkov.

“The UNESCO Creative Cities exhibition of photos taken from space by Russian cosmonauts and photographers from different countries, including India, is a wonderfully unique idea, and I congratulate all the organizers for doing such a first-rate job. I have a special affection for Russia. It is a country I have visited many times. Whether the delightful Bolshoi, the exquisite Mariinsky, or some other artistic masterpiece, the unforgettable beauty of its magnificent cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg and its rich cultural heritage are always with me and fill my heart with warmth and inspiration. I am certain that the BRICS Universe exhibition will reach beyond Mumbai’s photography enthusiasts to inspire scholars, students, and everyone who appreciates good art. This initiative will create a place for people to come together and share their cultural experiences and inspiration, foster closer ties between the nations, and deepen our understanding of one another,” Chairman Suntook said.

Deputy Consul General of the Russian Federation in Mumbai Maxim Aleshin also spoke of the importance of sharing our cultures, art, and traditions within BRICS to create a common identity and a partnership based on mutual respect and understanding.

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The BRICS Universe project is a unique series of expo events featuring 40 photographs of UNESCO creative cities from within BRICS taken from the ground and the International Space Station by Heroes of the Russian Federation and Cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Ivan Vagner.

The BRICS Universe project has been made possible by the partner efforts of the Nizhny Novgorod Planetarium, the Roscosmos State Corporation, the Creative Industries Foundation of the Ulyanovsk Region, and the ‘Russia - BRICS’ Project Office for International Youth Cooperation with the support of the Presidential Foundation for Cultural Initiatives. The project, implemented under the auspices of the Commission of the Russian Federation for UNESCO, was included in the Action Plan for Russia’s BRICS Chairship in 2024, which is managed by the Roscongress Foundation.