With the support of Rosneft, the exhibitions of People’s Artist of Russia Nikas Safronov were met with great success in India. The Dream Vision immersive project proved to be one of the most notable cultural events of the season, attracting a record number of visitors and receiving widespread public acclaim.

The exhibition took place at two major cultural centres in India. The first one was held in New Delhi at the national Lalit Kala Akademi from 7 to 21 December 2025 and the second one at the National Gallery of Modern Art, Mumbai from 30 December 2025 to 16 January 2026.

The Dream Vision exhibition is recognised as the most popular and significant one in India in the last 60 years. The exposition attracted significant numbers of visitors every day.

In India, 100 of Nikas Safronov’s best works were showcased, including a series of paintings created exclusively for the Indian public. The artist’s canvases featured picturesque architectural views of Moscow and St Petersburg alongside images of the Taj Mahal and other iconic places in India. Through the paintings, one could trace the evolution of Safronov’s artistic language: from classical painting and symbolism to the author’s Dream Vision style, which gave the exhibition its title. This unique technique enables the artist to create multi-layered paintings that blur the boundaries between reality and fiction.

The expositions were high-tech and based on the synergy of classical painting and modern multimedia solutions, including light, sound, video installations, LED screens and digital technologies.

In New Delhi, the works were housed in eight rooms across two floors of the Academy of Art, with a total exhibition area of around 1,300 square metres. At the entrance, guests were greeted by decorative sculptures of elephants hand-painted in Russian folk techniques. Over 400 metres of LED screens with augmented reality, artificial intelligence and immersive interaction were set up for visitors along the entire exhibition route. Furthermore, decorative solutions using robotics and animatronics were integrated into the exhibition space. Each room has been customised with its own unique sound and aroma design.

In Mumbai, large-format LED screens greet visitors at the entrance, creating the effect of transitioning from the real world to a world of images. There was a particular focus on works that combine traditional Russian patterns, such as Gzhel, Khokhloma and Palekh motifs, with Indian cultural codes. For this museum, Nikas Safronov created a Hindu mandala installation that came to life inside the gallery’s huge dome. This installation revealed the project’s key idea: the unification of Eastern and Western cultures.

The exhibitions in New Delhi and Mumbai attracted art critics, curators, collectors, cultural figures and representatives from the government, diplomatic circles and the media. The project has become a significant event in the cultural and social life of India. The exhibition received a high rating from India’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and the exposition was personally visited by the country’s Minister of Culture and Tourism, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.

The series of paintings painted by Safronov specifically for Indian audiences have attracted particular attention from art critics. They described these works as “a subtle and intellectual dialogue of cultures in which Russia speaks to India in the language of images and emotions.” These artworks are a testament to the artist’s respect and admiration for India, its history, philosophy, religious traditions, mythology, and architecture.

Rosneft supports major cultural initiatives in Russia and internationally, playing an active role in fostering cultural relations between Russia and India. In the summer of 2025, with the Company’s support, the Festival of India was held on Manezh Square in Moscow. Guests were treated to presentations of handicrafts and national delicacies, as well as performances by famous Indian creative groups. In October 2024, Tatiana Navka’s ice show tour in the Indian city of Ahmedabad was a great success, supported by Rosneft. Scheherazade’s Love Story, featuring the world’s top figure skaters, is the first ice show to be held in India.

Department of Information and Advertising
Rosneft
January 16, 2026

Keywords: Social news 2026