Anatoly Pronin, Behind the Porous Curtain, 8

Behind the Porous Curtain, curated by Regina Khidekel, showcases 18 works by Anatoly Pronin. These works capture the Soviet period of artistic inspiration of the 1970's, as the post-Stalin Thaw opened a pathway through the iron curtain for modern Western art and culture to enter the Soviet Union. Most of Pronin's photographs were shot behind the theater curtain, capturing the private and almost intimate world of rehearsals with iconic figures such as George Balanchine, Roland Petit, Laurent Terzieff, and Marcel Marceau.

The theater tours displayed in this exhibit ended the isolation of the Soviet art scene, reviving names erased from history and introducing new ideas and methods. One of the central subjects of this collection is Leonid Jakobson, a non-conformist choreographer who created masterpieces despite strict state control, transforming classical ballet technique into modern dance lexicon.

Anatoly Pronin has pursued photography since childhood. After graduating from Leningrad State University, he worked for Leningrad publishing houses and magazines before moving to the United States in 1981. His works are part of the collections of the State Russian Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Library of Congress, among many others. He has been awarded numerous grants and awards, including the silver medal at the 1971 Berlin International Photo Exhibition.