Nikas Safronov: cultural diplomacy through the language of art
The You Are Art installation on Strastnoy Boulevard became a gift to Muscovites and guests of the capital for City Day, a symbol of cultural dialogue among BRICS and SCO countries, and an invitation for everyone to feel part of world art.
On September 12, 2025, in the heart of Moscow, People's Artist of Russia Nikas Safronov together with the leadership of the Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Foreign Ministry opened a new symbol of cultural unity and creative inspiration. The installation became part of the Summer in Moscow city project and was timed to Moscow City Day on September 13–14.
The work takes the form of a large mirrored sphere decorated with Nikas Safronov's paintings. It is placed on a platform with an installation diagram titled Art Is Here, styled as a Moscow Metro map. Under each line appears the phrase Art Is Here in the languages of BRICS and SCO countries, emphasizing the universality of art and cultural cooperation between states.
"Such art objects can appear not only on Strastnoy Boulevard but throughout Moscow. They help people feel themselves part of great world art," Nikas Safronov noted.
The installation's key feature is its mirrored surface. Approaching the sphere, the viewer sees not only the artist's paintings but also their own reflection next to the words You Are Art. The work reminds us that art is present everywhere — in the city, in nature, in people, and most importantly, in each of us.
"There are several billion masterpieces of art in the world — beautiful, vivid, astonishing. Each of them is unique and inimitable. One of those masterpieces is you. You are art," Nikas Safronov said.
This idea resonates with the words of Petr Borisovich Uksusnikov, First Vice-Rector of the Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Foreign Ministry, who stressed that the significance of such initiatives goes far beyond an artistic gesture. In his view, preserving historical and cultural memory gives the project special depth and forms a spiritual foundation for educating a new generation of diplomats and patriots ready to serve Russia with honor.
"What gives our work special significance and depth is the preservation of historical and cultural memory. The portrait of legendary intelligence officer Alexey Botyan presented to the Academy by Nikas Stepanovich is more than a work of art. The feats of such heroes shape our historical code, while the talent of masters like Safronov forms our cultural code," Petr Uksusnikov said.
The opening of the installation became not only a festive occasion but also an important cultural and diplomatic gesture reflecting the role of art in strengthening mutual understanding and trust between peoples. Professor Vladimir Ivanovich Vinokurov continued this idea by emphasizing the project's international significance.
"This project, with its central idea You Are Art, serves as a vivid embodiment of a foreign policy strategy in which culture acts as soft power. It unites peoples across borders and reminds us that neither art nor the human aspiration toward beauty and dialogue can be canceled," Vladimir Vinokurov stressed.
An interactive stand with a QR code was opened for guests: by uploading a photo with the installation to a chatbot, visitors could take part in a contest. The winners were promised gifts from Nikas Safronov.