Contemporary Art and Classical Museum: Conflict or Symbiosis?

This paper examines some of the aspects of exhibition practice at the State Hermitage Museum, in particular, projects related to contemporary art in the context and space of classical museum. The Hermitage Museum as a universal museum, the museum of different styles and epochs. Therefore one of its intentions is to show the art of the latest trends, whether such demonstration is a sign of evolution, or, on the contrary, of regression of culture. Despite the inconsistency of criteria of classical aesthetics in evaluation of art from the 20th to the early 21st century, the museum may show the continuity of tradition while exhibiting contemporary art in the context of art of the old masters.