Natalia Stepkina, minister-counsellor of the Russian Embassy in China and permanent representative to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Secretariat and Viktor Bout at the opening ceremony of the exhibition in Beijing, on July 3, 2025 Photo: Dong Feng/Global Times

With the support of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in China, Viktor Bout, a well-known Russian businessman, deputy, social, and political figure, member of the Creative Union of Artists of Russia, ambassador of the Russian-Chinese cultural dialogue, and a legendary man, featured his selected works of art created over a 15-year stay in American prisons on charges fabricated by the US special services. Russian Seasons exhibition opened in Beijing on July 3, 2025.

In total, over the years, he made about 300 paintings and drawings using different artistic techniques: graphite and colored pencils, pastel, watercolor, acrylic paints, and oil paints. All of them were delivered to Russia with the assistance of the Russian Embassy in Washington.

"My shore with thin line" is the symbolic name of an art project consisting of more than 50 works of art created by Viktor Bout in American cells and personifying the strength of the Russian spirit, which can stand and not break in the most terrible circumstances. The prison cell, a little more than two square meters in size, became a cell, library, and art workshop for him. His disobedience is a symbol of faith in the victory of good over evil, that the human spirit is stronger than any trials.

Viktor Bout said that through painting, he was able to remind himself that the difficulties were just temporary. "Through painting, I called for peace instead of war and conflict," he said. 

Alla Bout recalled when she saw the paintings by her husband, she understood he was dealing with the tough times in his own creative way. 

In her speech, Natalia Stepkina, minister-counsellor of the Russian Embassy in China and permanent representative to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Secretariat said that the embassy attaches great importance to this cultural exchange projects that let Chinese people understand the diversity of Russian culture. "We think it is necessary to showcase the Russian artistic treasures that Chinese people are familiar with. More importantly, we need to feature the vitality of contemporary art in Russia, including the bold pursuits in art exploration, proposition of our time, and unique artists with deep thoughts. This is particularly meaningful," said Stepkina.