Friends of Our Gallery

On art, celebrations, and interiors.

The team at Kvartira S Gallery spoke with Elena Shevtsova, restaurateur and owner of Saratov, Express Buffet, and  Peshi, where the major seasonal exhibition opening “Our Future” will take place on 8 July.

How do you support contemporary art? What do you consider its particular value to be?

Contemporary art is multifaceted; it has no rules or canons. One way or another, true art is always an invitation to reflect on what truly matters. I believe that this dialogue with the viewer is the greatest achievement of contemporary artists. I try to find the time to visit exhibitions by artists whose work interests me and to host art evenings at my establishments. For me, this is more than simply following a trend: I have loved drawing since childhood, so this subject is very important to me.

How do you select works of art for your restaurants?

I care deeply about my restaurants, so when it comes to their interiors, I am an extreme perfectionist. I can spend hours choosing decorative elements and always rely on my own taste.
833625
                                                                           Peshi Restaurant
 Why did you decide to offer the gallery a venue for its seasonal vernissage? What does Peshi envision for this vernissage?
PESHI Restaurant is a splendid venue. It has an elegant interior and a spacious dining room whose panoramic windows overlook the Kremlin. I am genuinely interested in art, so as soon as the opportunity arose to hold a seasonal vernissage at PESHI, I agreed without a second thought. It is certain to be a magnificent event.
833619
                                                                                Peshi Restaurant
833623
                                                                               Peshi Restaurant
 Which contemporary artists do you admire?
Among contemporary artists, I particularly admire Aurelio Bruni—a highly talented painter whose figures always seem extraordinarily alive. I also love the vibrant canvases of Wojciech Babski.
Do you have works by either of them at home, or are there any you would like to acquire?
I am not really a collector; I rarely buy paintings. Perhaps that is because I enjoy painting myself.
Which of the masters do you prefer?
Well, if we divide artists into two categories—contemporary artists and the masters—then Claude Monet, of course.
1-5
                                            Claude Monet, “Impression, Sunrise”

PESHI Restaurant

Rare fish sourced from around the world, impeccable service, an extensive wine list, an original Art Deco interior, and panoramic views of the Kremlin—this is PESHI.

18425198_1900076033603929_4682462337969859240_n
In 2017, the popular fish restaurant PESHI moved to Okhotny Ryad, settling beside the FOUR SEASONS hotel in the Modny Sezon shopping gallery. Its concept centres on rare fish sourced from around the world, an extensive wine list, a contemporary interior with Art Deco elements, and, above all, a spectacular panoramic view of the Kremlin.

19577500_1927156724229193_3983483592786350419_o
Twice a week, fresh catches arrive at the restaurant from Mediterranean countries, Japan, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Morocco, and the Russian Far East. 
Peshi’s guests can personally select from the abundance displayed on ice: from oysters, mussels, and live crabs to spiny lobsters, octopuses, and, of course, freshly chilled fish of rare and wild varieties. 

19417526_1922719461339586_1535950526729129036_o
All products are tested at the Archimedes laboratory, where the quality of every delivery is carefully monitored.