Last Monday, in the GUM Demonstration Hall, as part of the Cherry Forest Open Art Festival and the Red Square Book Festival, a meeting was held with Russian art critic, exhibition curator, writer Arkady Ippolitov and Russian literary critic, journalist, translator Dmitry Bak. Public-talk was joined by art critic, art director of Vikhrovaart gallery Anna Vikhrova and film journalist, film costume historian, KinoPoisk columnist Katerina Krupnova.

The guests of the event became participants in a lively discussion and tried to answer the question of how art is changing in the modern world and with the use of modern technologies, and what impact it has on our lives. According to Arkady Ippolitov, it is difficult for the author to talk about his book, readers need to read it: “This is a collection of various articles. It is written for artistic value. No one can define it and it is difficult to measure it. Venus of Willendorf is a beautiful thing, a Paleolithic figurine, which was created about 30 thousand years ago. The book about the figurine will be presented as part of the Cherry Forest Festival. My feelings are wonderful. The name "Cherry Forest" is wonderful and it's good that it is blooming again!

The guests of the event were among the first to purchase the book by Arkady Ippolitov and get an autograph from the author. The conversation of invited art critics and journalists was accompanied by a storm of applause from the audience. Dmitry Bak described the new book Venus of Willendorf as follows: “The Red Square Book Festival proves that the printed book lives and wins. Great interest in books - different, smart, and the book of Arkady Ippolitov is undoubtedly smart. It nurtures the reader, makes him reach some heights that he had not thought about before. This book is not only about Italy, it is about music, literature, photography, architecture, different countries. This is a kind of synthetic book that poses the most important question "Why do we need art now?"