THROUGHOUT THE THREE YEARS OF STUDY AT THE MANCHESTER METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY, I HAVE DEVELOPED A DEDICATED AND INVESTED INTEREST IN RUSSIAN ART AND CULTURE. MY AREA OF EXPERTISE LAYS WITHIN 20TH CENTURY RUSSIAN HISTORY, RUSSIAN MODERNISM AND CONTEMPORARY DEVELOPMENTS PERTAINING TO POST-SOVIET CULTURE AND ARTISTIC PRACTICE.
 
MY THIRD-YEAR EXTENDED ESSAY, RUSSIAN ART AND CULTURE WITHIN AMERICA: POLITICISED TOOLS OF POWER, OFFERS INSIGHTS INTO HOW THE FLUCTUATION OF CONFLICT AND LEVEL OF FOREIGN THREAT AFFECTS THE EXHIBITION, RECEPTION, VISIBILITY, POWER AND IMPORTANCE OF ARTWORKS THAT DERIVE FROM PEOPLE DEEMED AS BELONGING TO AN ANTAGONISTIC CULTURE. AWARENESS OF CULTURE IS IMPORTANT; ART BEING USED AS A POLITICAL TOOL IS ESSENTIAL TO MY CONCERN, AND I REMAIN INTRIGUED TO DEBATE THE POLITICAL POWER ARTWORKS CAN LEVERAGE.