Read the book: «The First Public Theatre Guild»

Roman Evgenievich Akimov, Elizaveta Yuryevna Matvievich, Ivan Viktorovich Dementyev, Pavel Leonidovich Yuster, Mikhail Nikolaevich Russkikh Roxana Olegovna Ruinskaya Sergey Vladimirovich Bosov Yulia Alexandrovna Vorobyeva Lima Akhmedovna Rasulova Valentina Sergeevna Shulga Viktoria Leonidovna Kurbanova Pavel Nikolaevich Sofronov Angelina Olegovna Puzikova Anisia Albertovna Ledovskaya Olga Nikolaevna Nikanshina Olga Mikhailovna Stashkevich Anastasiya Alexandrovna Loza Tatyana Gennadyevna Mironova Nini Viktorovna Lemann Elena Alexandrovna Demidenko Aleksandra Valeryevna Kamyshan and others

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Authors: Akimov Roman Evgenievich, Matvievich Elizaveta Yuryevna, Dementyev Ivan Viktorovich, Yuster Pavel Leonidovich, Russkikh Mikhail Nikolaevich, Ruinskaya Roxana Olegovna, Bosov Sergey Vladimirovich, Vorobyeva Yulia Alexandrovna, Rasulova Lima Akhmedovna, Shulga Valentina Sergeevna, Kurbanova Viktoria Leonidovna, Sofronov Pavel Nikolaevich, Puzikova Angelina Olegovna, Ledovskaya Anisia Albertovna, Nikanshina Olga Nikolaevna, Stashkevich Olga Mikhailovna, Loza Anastasiya Alexandrovna, Mironova Tatyana Gennadyevna, Lemann Nini Viktorovna, Demidenko Elena Alexandrovna, Kamyshan Aleksandra Valeryevna

Compiled by Darya Vladimirovna Kirdyanova

Illustrator Roman Evgenievich Akimov

Fabulist Mikhail Nikolaevich Russkikh

ISBN 978-5-0065-8996-4

Created with Ridero smart publishing system

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

To the charitable foundation “Art of Kindness”:

Sergey Zuev

Valentina Novakovskaya

To the K. S. Stanislavsky House Museum:

Sofya Gracheva

Anait Ovchinnikova

Natalya Karsova

Almaz Khakimov

Sergey Soldatov

Vladimir Shaukhin

To the teachers of the First Public Theatre Guild:

Elizaveta Matvievich

Ivan Dementyev

Special thanks to:

Alexander Yaroshevsky

INTRODUCTION

This book simply had to come into existence, as it was needed not only by us but also by those who knew about us, those who followed what was happening here, those who came to us, and those who will come in the future.

Our guild opened in a challenging anniversary year for the Moscow Art Theatre. It was created not so much in honor of the theatre, its walls, or its people, but for the individual who cares deeply about all things living and human – about all that is truly humane and can only originate from the heart.

To lean on the legacy of the giants of the past while standing at a crossroads is a noble mission for those who are ready to search for and discover their own path. This is why this book is not about creative solutions but about the search for something greater, something deeper – something that cannot always be explained but is easily understood on an emotional level.

What lies before you is a document of our journey, written under the most discerning gaze, in Moscow, at 6 Leontievsky Lane.

Artistic Director – Roman Evgenievich Akimov

The Guild Process

LEARNERS

Pavel Yuster

Sergey Bosov

Elena Demidenko

Yulia Vorobyeva

Victoria Kurbanova

Maria Gil

Nini Lemann

Anastasia Loza

Sergey Kramarev

Valentina Shulga

Anisia Ledovskaya

Roxana Ruinskaya

Olga Nikanshina

Evelina Pashovkina

Alexandra Kamyshan

Tatyana Mironova

Pavel Sofronov

Lima Rasulova

Mikhail Russkikh

Alina Gilmetova

Alina Balakina

Anton Ushakov

Antonina Yegorova

Olga Stashkevich

Irina Ratnikova

Asya Putilina

Daria Rublyova

Olesya Bykoderova

Angelina Puzikova

APRIL

Fabulist / Guild Learner – Mikhail Russkikh:

The wooden veranda, smooth and bright,
A city, two glasses, a summer night.
Though strange it may seem, and yet, somehow,
Two captains met – here, and now.
Not for drinks, not for cheer,
But for ideas that drew them near.
They spoke of seas, of ships, of lore,
Of dreams that sailed to distant shores.
– At Leontiev’s yard, a caravel grand,
A sacred temple, a sight so planned.
How glorious it would be, how rare! —
Dreamt Ivan, lost in the coffee’s flare.
But truth would come, and Roman would say:
– My friend, your dreams show us the way.
Seven summers ago, I set my sights,
On paths that led to soaring heights.
The seventh day, a photo to show,
Proof that miracles don’t come from nowhere, you know.
For those who doubt, here is the clue:
Dreams are real when the heart is true.
This fable holds no moral, no weight,
No lessons here to contemplate.
To conclude, let’s raise Oceania’s story high,
In reverence for dreams that never die.

Lima Rasulova

Opening of the Book Club

Starting from this day, the guild will systematically study Carl Gustav Jung’s book “On the Psychology of the Unconscious.” Some excerpts from the learners’ reflections on this topic will be published in this book.

April 28, 2024: Guild of Autonics

Roman Evgenievich Akimov:

“Spoke a lot about the creation of the world and how much we’ve lost by immersing ourselves in the illusions of its description. Hinted, albeit indirectly, that they are the ones who could become the guides capable of pulling weary humanity out of its centuries-long slumber.”

April 29, 2024: Guild of Plastics and Dance

Elizaveta Yuryevna Matvievich:

“Chaotic, yet very warm and positive. Everyone is so musical! The strong beat is both our strength and our curse. It seems that most people have come to believe that plasticity isn’t just ‘dancing around.’”

Book Club / Sergey Bosov:

Read the first chapter. Many things resonated with me:

1. Unconscious processes distort/block the perception of reality (despite the body’s proper functioning – hearing, sight) to protect us from forbidden, painful, or frightening things.

2. The unconscious can build entire chains of events, leading to the outcome it seeks to resolve an inner conflict or satisfy unconscious intentions and needs. I’ve repeatedly observed this in my life and made use of it. It’s astonishing how the unconscious can construct and execute complex schemes with minimal involvement of a person’s conscious mind. This immense psychic energy – combined with intuition, the ability to pick up on subtle nuances, forecasting, and creating strategies and behaviors – can be harnessed in life and art if we acknowledge, observe, articulate, and become aware of it wherever possible.

3. The therapeutic effect of articulation or expression – through drawing, dancing, movement, or sound – allows one to step into the role of the observer, gain awareness, and either heal or deeply connect with another person or a character as an actor.

4. Trauma isn’t the key root cause of neuroses (it’s often a trigger that activates programs or beliefs). At the root of many psychopathologies lies an unconscious conflict or unmet needs, often in the sphere of love, touching on vital human necessities.

April 29, 2024: Guild of Plastics and Dance

Elizaveta Yuryevna Matvievich:

“Barely managed to fit everything into three hours. Today was a day of ‘exploration through touch.’ Many pleasantly surprised me, both with their physical abilities and their desire to understand their bodies. Everyone left energized, as if it weren’t already 10 PM. It was… and it was wonderful.”

Book Club / Sergey Kramarev:

Read the first chapter in one breath. Despite encountering unfamiliar terms frequently, I managed to immerse myself in the material, and now I want to read it through to the end. Of course, how strange it is… how strange we are… that even the smallest “mistake,” such as in childhood, can radically alter your life as an adult.

MAY

May 1, 2024: Guild of Autonics

Roman Evgenievich Akimov:

Spoke in the guild about a case from my practice that deeply resonated with the participants. Naturally, it directly pertains to theater and the complexity of human life – a complexity often overlooked.

The story was about a woman and her daughter visiting her mother (the grandmother of the child). At the end of their visit, the woman faced her daughter’s disobedience, expressed through hurtful words and accusations directed not only at her but also at the grandmother. Afterward, the woman wrote to her husband, asking him to discipline the daughter and put an end to the “little surprises” her father liked to create. When the husband refused, the woman erupted in anger, hurling accusations, insults, and suspicions of infidelity and betrayal at him.

But was that really the case? Unraveling this complex – yet commonplace for many families – knot began with understanding and uncovering the root causes buried deep in the woman’s childhood. She had experienced a profound, unexpressed psycho-emotional trauma, so intense that it had been hidden deep in her unconscious, surfacing only under opportune circumstances. Her request to her husband to punish their daughter was nothing more than an unconscious plea: “Avenge me.”

As a child, the woman had been abandoned by her father. Within this context, it became evident that, on one hand, she was seeking protection for herself from “her” man (through the image of the father who had left), and on the other, she was unconsciously trying to exact revenge on the world for her past suffering. This drove her entire life, affecting all aspects of it, isolating her further and creating an aura of detachment and alienation. In every situation involving her daughter and husband (where the young daughter symbolized herself, and the husband symbolized the absent father), the man was always to blame, while the daughter became a tool for resolving her “internal issues.”

What happened was both a tool for addressing a great trauma and a purpose in itself – a horrifying confirmation that the male figure was the root of all problems. Until the issue was resolved, everything remained a vicious cycle for everyone involved.

In the context of this example, I also spoke about the persistence of illusions, as the unfortunate woman lived within them, unaware that these deceptive lies were pulling everyone around her into the same situation. The most tragic part is that neither she nor they were to blame – after all, how can you fault a child whose father disappeared from her life, causing it to halt for an indefinite and torturous period? The hopelessness of an unresolved issue or deeply rooted illusions leads only to death and the destruction of all potential.

The term “awakening” means breaking free from illusions and honestly answering oneself. Even one step in this process – questioning: What am I doing? Why am I doing it? How am I doing it? – without self-justification is a step toward liberation.

One must reach the very essence of everything. And how is the life we create in cinema or theater any different? After all, this story is but a fragment caught in the vast sea of psychological phenomena raging within each of us. To do theater, we must shake ourselves free, awaken in the best sense of the word, and then light the lanterns for those standing on a road without stars.

Book Club / Victoria Kurbanova:

The phrase about the neurotic syndrome having a “psychogenic” nature – originating in the psyche – struck a chord with me. It also noted that for an effect to occur, a shock must coincide with a particular mental predisposition. These words immediately made me think about genetics and the inheritance of various mental illnesses. The first chapter doesn’t directly address this, but I believe that “mental predisposition” is closely tied to genetics.

Another surprising story was about a patient who ran away from horses, only to find that the root of the problem was her love for her friend’s husband. That flight from the horses was the unconscious desire triumphing.

I immediately drew a parallel to myself, recalling an incident where my conscious mind sought peace, but my unconscious mind leaned toward conflict. At first, I also thought it all happened on its own and that I had been provoked into the conflict. But after reading this chapter, I came to think that, most likely, I was ready to “be provoked” and enter the conflict myself.

May 5, 2024: Guild of the M. Chekhov Method

Ivan Viktorovich Dementyev:

It was incredible to visit Konstantin Sergeyevich – for the first time! Until now, there was always someone else already at the museum… The anticipation was immense, and the joy was overwhelming!

We didn’t get to the practice yet; we looked to the future, discussed plans, and got to know each other better.

My biggest takeaway: we’ve begun!

We began on a beautiful May evening! This evening is historic!

Anisia Ledovskaya

May 6, 2024: Guild of Plastics and Dance

Elizaveta Yuryevna Matvievich:

Today, we attempted to delve a little deeper into the questions of the body. How surprised they were to realize that all this time, their movements had been trivial! But the most important thing… they want to learn, they truly want to!

May 6, 2024: Guild of Autonics

Roman Evgenievich Akimov:

The session was not without tension among the participants. What I told them challenged their understanding of themselves and the world. Beliefs they held as truth crumbled before their eyes like crystal castles hurled from a cliff. But I stood by them, saying: do not fear, for after the destruction of illusions comes freedom and the clarity to see what must be done next.

During the session, I had to provide immediate support to one participant, as there was no other choice. Her mother is gravely ill, and the moment of her passing is drawing near. I helped her find peace, and this calm extended to everyone around, as if her tears were someone else’s tears as well… and so it was, and so it is.

After the session, another participant wrote to me about her difficult problem – a lack of self-acceptance in the family she is trying to build. Somehow, she keeps returning to unresolved relationships and conflicts from the past that once destroyed her. Worries and haunting images robbed her of sleep, her soul suffering without an outlet. We spoke until 4 a.m., identified the root cause, and outlined a plan for what to do next.

May 7, 2024: Guild of Plastics and Dance

Elizaveta Yuryevna Matvievich:

How wonderful it is that I’m writing this the morning after. Another three hours flew by unnoticed. Oh, the spontaneous improvisation to African rhythms was simply delightful! The exchange of energy was at its peak. So many of them have boundless potential, even if not all of them realize it. The thoughts this sparked in them – and in me – are immeasurable.

May 7, 2024: Guild of the M. Chekhov Method

Ivan Viktorovich Dementyev:

The first practical lesson! We created Living Feelings within ourselves, without drawing on personal experience! Usually, I begin by explaining the three main differences between Chekhov’s method and Stanislavsky’s system, and only then do I introduce the “Expansion – Contraction” exercise. But this time, it was the other way around! Theory will come in the next lesson, but they already know that Feelings can be born in the Center of the Chest through Imagination and Attention!

I am thrilled that everything is unfolding in such a unique way! This is exactly how it should be!

May 8, 2024: Guild of Autonics

Roman Evgenievich Akimov:

We are analyzing the actions of each participant, exploring both their light and dark sides. It feels as though we’ve been wandering in a desert for decades, where the unconscious manifestations of the learners, without my guidance, once again build “idols” for worship, pushing aside what we’ve worked so hard to reach.

At the end of the session, a true miracle occurred. In a challenging moment, as we delved into questions involving a highly talented participant named Yulia, everything around us suddenly fell silent. It felt as though such stillness hadn’t been in K.S. Stanislavsky’s house for a long time – as if even the floorboards and chairs ceased to creak.

Afterward, there were Anton and Alina. For them, this moment was a small step, but what a step it was for humanity.

May 12, 2024: Guild of the M. Chekhov Method

Ivan Viktorovich Dementyev:

The Feeling of Wholeness! The Most Important Lesson! The Most Crucial Topic!

Mikhail Alexandrovich Chekhov said that an actor who does not feel this very Wholeness has no right to step onto the stage! The world is one and whole, and I am a vital part of it! After all, Nature created me exactly as I am, in this exact time, and in this exact place! Was this a coincidence? I deeply doubt it.

Participant in the Audition for the Guild of the Autonics System

Book Club / Roxana Ruinskaya:

Reflected on the first chapter.

1. I was intrigued by Frans’ observation that scientists lack curiosity. When the first work on the new concept of neuroses was published, the authors expressed approval but continued to act as they had before (similar to agreeing the Earth is a sphere yet continuing to draw it flat). This resonated deeply. It reminded me of people in the modern film industry who agree that different methods of existing on screen are great but often rely on stereotypes (e.g., a girl from Central Asia can only play a cleaner, and a fit, muscular guy is always cast as a bodyguard or gangster).

2. Conversational therapy or “chimney sweeping,” which helped a patient. When I read this, I realized I do the same but without falling into distraction or twilight consciousness. I often create dialogues in my head, sometimes even imaginary plays or situations that never happened. I play them out in my mind.

3. The description of ignoring passion and how the unconscious can almost control you was deeply moving. It’s a little frightening but also fascinating. The unconscious proved stronger… But the patient fidgeted and tried to change the subject, which means she realized one thing was connected to another and wasn’t entirely sure the situation had arisen by itself.

May 13, 2024: Guild of Plastics and Dance

Elizaveta Yuryevna Matvievich:

Today, a little magic happened – for the first time, they touched one another. Only honest sensations. A partner is a canvas worthy of attention, meticulous and careful work. It’s important to feel and trust. Almost everyone managed to trust and keep their eyes closed, though there were exceptions.

Such beautiful impulses are born. Some are organic, while others still try to “look good” and won’t let their body speak. But we’re on the path to it.

And yes, today, beyond everything universal, we also tackled serious earthly matters! Oh, they’ll remember my name in the morning when their bodies speak to them in the language of soreness.

May 13, 2024: Guild of Autonics

Roman Evgenievich Akimov:

The first part of the session was dedicated to training, specifically exercises in perception, where each participant created an image evoked by their partner. Naturally, this served as a mirror of the unconscious, so precise that it felt like a revelation, requiring no words, explanations, or interpretations – all of it created solely in the freedom of creativity and inner liberation.

We must dedicate as much time as possible to such practices so that they transition from the realm of the new and unknown into a principle of existence and interaction, both in life and on stage.

The second part met noticeable resistance from the participants. I understand that reevaluating past experiences is always frightening, but this is where the most attention is needed, as the fear that arises is merely an illusion. The sleep of reason produces monsters.

I received a beautiful card from one learner thanking me for helping untangle a knot that had tormented her for years:

“Untie the knots of failure binding us,

As we loosen the ropes

By which we hold others’ faults.”

There is no greater joy than seeing a person free from suffering and able to pursue what they love.

May 14, 2024: Guild Learner / Yulia Vorobyeva:

I am a reserved person, keeping everything inside. Rarely do I share anything, even with those close to me, unless prompted by a surge of the soul. My mind is constantly filled with questions and answers, dialogues, and searches.

Now, the First Public Theater Guild has entered my life (or I have entered its life, or it mine). There, we study not just acting but also ourselves, exploring human nature (and through this, acting). We talk about topics that were once only inside me, and I find answers to my questions.

To me, this is magic. What I needed so much has come into my life. It’s happening gradually, and this is just the beginning. Something interesting will come later, but it’s already here now. It’s fascinating; it’s a process.

May 14, 2024: Guild of the M. Chekhov Method

Ivan Viktorovich Dementyev:

Today, we introduced the first tool of Chekhov’s method – the Tints. I showed the learners three steps to creating Living Feelings in the Center of their chest. Only attention and imagination – no “digging up old wounds” from the past. And they felt it! It’s wonderful!

But there was a downside – tardiness! At 4:00 p.m. in the Onegin Hall, only 5—6 people were present. I went downstairs to see if anyone else was coming… I didn’t see anyone rushing to the lesson, even though it was already 4:02.

I implemented a rule: attendance will now be recorded five minutes after the start of the lesson. If you’re later than that, you weren’t there!

May 14, 2024: Guild of Plastics and Dance

Elizaveta Yuryevna Matvievich:

As I expected, those who attended yesterday’s session remembered me this morning! Slowly but surely, we are coming to understand that the body is a mechanism requiring care and painstaking work.

Today, we continued building trust, now from a physical perspective. It’s heartening to see the participants filled with emotions. Actions they once deemed impossible are now part of their body.

Many questions arise during the work, and together we explore the answers. It’s impossible not to be delighted by this.

May 15, 2024: Guild of Autonics

Roman Evgenievich Akimov:

Through my gaze and my painted scenes,
Your weary step will soar with might.
No force shall stifle the beautiful lines,
And what was lost will be found in the light.

With fervent colors, wild and bright,
We’ll paint for ages lands divine.
Ascending the cliffs of atonement’s height,
To the drums’ loud beat, in a cadence of time.

On a damp, cold night, under starlit skies,
By touch alone, no one will be found.
And the blind bird, in its memories confined,
Escaping the cage, will crash to the ground.

May 19, 2024: Guild of the M. Chekhov Method

Ivan Viktorovich Dementyev:

Our fifth lesson. Today, we went further, deeper! We gave birth to Living Feelings within ourselves, and it was magnificent!

At a certain point, the space of the Onegin Hall became a kind partner to us. Through several Tints, we ascended the steps, took to the stage, passed between the columns, and descended again… I greeted each person at the edge of the stage. First came the Tint of “emptiness,” then “vulnerability,” and finally, “triumph.”

Fascinating observations emerged: the first two Tints (which can be conditionally called “negative”) were embraced with ease by everyone. I felt the vibrations from each participant… But the “triumphant” Tint was harder! Some embraced it and were dazzling, while others walked timidly, hiding their eyes, as though unable to accept their own triumph.

I drew the learners’ attention to this and assigned them homework for next Tuesday: to constantly evoke this Tint within themselves!

Roxana Ruinskaya’s phrase left a strong impression: “We are all Winners here!” She was referring to the fact that they had all been accepted into the Guild. How right she is!

Book Club / Alina Balakina:

I increasingly feel like a doctor dissecting the human brain and a detective solving the riddle of a crime. The chapters on Eros and Power provoked the most thought and reaction. Here’s what resonated with me and sparked reflection:

• How sick are we all? Do we understand who our demon is – Eros or the Desire for Power? How much do we accept our shadow and our demons?

• Realizing and accepting your shadow side (your past, flaws, fears, etc.) is the only chance to achieve completeness. A person cannot exist solely in the vertical; the horizontal and everything connected to it are inextricably linked to life. This is a given, a key, a salvation for the soul.

The example of Nietzsche and his relationship with Wagner struck me deeply. For the first time, I encountered the argument about his stigmatization by the spirit. It made me think about how even the greats (perhaps especially the greats) can sink so deeply into the denial of important things that it leads to the destruction of their minds.

And it’s captivating to think about our inability to control such an uncontrollable substance as the unconscious. How enlightened and aware are we, living without any control over the universe within us? I desperately want to become Alexander the Great and tame my Bucephalus, preventing any neurosis from emerging ten years down the road and wreaking havoc.

May 20, 2024: Guild of Plastics and Dance

Elizaveta Yuryevna Matvievich:

Monday is now officially our cardio and stunt day! It was intense, and alongside the physical work, we also began learning to “knead” one another. A perfect blend of the pleasant and the useful. We identified pressure points and explored the muscles we have, so we can later put them to work.

In addition, today we had our first encounter with the primary partner of physical theater – the floor. Or rather, the ground. We explored basic movements of merging with and departing from it. It turned out to be far from simple because, after all, our floor is hard!

It was productive and active, and we barely managed to fit everything into three hours.

May 20, 2024: Guild of Autonics

Roman Evgenievich Akimov:

This was a two-hour intensive practical session in the Onegin Hall. The intensity was so great that the very air of this sacred space seemed to heat up, becoming akin to the core of a boiling volcano.

In the final hour, we delved into unconscious symbols and the concepts of natural unconscious reactions, including painful and pathological ones.

When analyzing observations, almost everyone chose the simplest and, in their view, most explicable examples, especially in the realm of emotions they observed, where feelings tended to gravitate toward varying degrees of fear. This, of course, reflects their own experiences – they react so strongly to these examples because they themselves confront such fears every day. Most of them are captives of this socially pervasive emotion in our challenging times.

May 21, 2024: Guild of the M. Chekhov Method

Ivan Viktorovich Dementyev:

Today, many learners arrived late to the lesson. I almost started lecturing them: “And why don’t I come late…” but stopped myself immediately. I realized how foolish and self-indulgent it would be to elevate myself in front of my learners by saying, “When I was your age…”

I recall, during my time at the Moscow Art Theatre School-Studio, our dean once said: “We secretly built a theater. We couldn’t walk into reception without carrying two bricks, and we’d leave with two bags of earth. We could only dump it in our own district so no one would suspect we were digging underground.” He was talking about creating the studio theater “Man.”

Why set myself as an example? I need to find another way to motivate them, to inspire them to arrive on time. That is the essence of high-level pedagogy. There’s no need for me to say I’m punctual – as the head of the course, it’s obvious I can’t be late.

Though, I must admit, I was terribly late to the very first lesson. I was mortified, even though I didn’t blame myself – I had calculated the travel time correctly to arrive by 3:50 PM! But we didn’t arrive until 4:30 PM! Everything was blocked, and on top of that, the driver took a wrong turn due to GPS glitches.

Fortunately, I wasn’t alone; the group leader, Olya Stashkevich, was with me, and she witnessed the situation. It turned out the President’s inauguration was taking place in the city, and in the end, it was the President who made me late for my very first lesson.

Let this tardiness become part of our history as well!

May 21, 2024: Guild of Plastics and Dance

Elizaveta Yuryevna Matvievich:

Today, we chose a calmer and more measured mode of existence. We focused on training where the body becomes a useless tool if one doesn’t think or imagine. Not everyone grasped this concept right away, but after about forty minutes, many found the right path, and the first breakthroughs in discovery occurred!

By the end of the session, we worked on the crucial concepts of contact and understanding. The task was for two people to be connected, with all their movements coordinated and comfortable for their partner. Many showcased great creativity, others took a simpler route, but contact was established, and no one got hurt!

Fabulist / Guild Learner – Mikhail Russkikh:

Greetings to you, wanderer!
We address you formally, it’s our tradition.
A compass, a couple of notebooks,
Indoor shoes (or just socks will do).
To rise in the ranks,
Tap “Sign Up” with your finger.
Dangerous items here include:
Laziness, prejudice, falseness, pride?
Deposit them in the cloakroom,
For here, under the banner of adventure,
With aspirations reaching vertical heights,
The need for such burdens will vanish into the abyss.
The unconscious, that mysterious force,
Reveals the image of a psycho-gesture,
Radiating deep feelings,
Unleashing the form of plastic expression!
A poetic, coherent spoiler —
Has it inflamed your imagination?
This is the first month; you are at the beginning,
The path is outlined – forget the goals!
There are no pills, no secrets.
Everything you need is already with you.
Fan the flame of knowledge,
Become the light of truth!

May 22, 2024: Guild of Autonics

Roman Evgenievich Akimov:

By sheer coincidence, our guild arranged a meeting with Alexey Igorevich Sheynin. From the moment I received the phone call to making my decision, only a few seconds passed. The meeting followed a well-trodden path for Alexey Igorevich – he always has a few prepared stories up his sleeve, ones he repeats from meeting to meeting. But this time, there was something new, and even I was surprised: it was Boris Pasternak’s poetry, which he hadn’t recited before. I must admit – it was the highest level of emotional artistry.