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May Issue 2004
Elder Art Gallery in Charlotte, NC, Presents Works by Russian Artists
Elder
Art Gallery in Charlotte, NC, is proud to present a select group
of Russian paintings by artists from the Veronezh School in the
former Soviet Union. Artists such as Vasily Komalov and Tatiana
Konovalova have earned the title of Honored People's Artist in
their native country and are now gaining recognition in the west.
The Russians Are Coming will be on view May 5 through June
30, 2004.
The paintings within The Russians Are Coming exhibit were purchased directly from the artists or from their surviving family which serves to provide for the recognition and financial rewards that they deserve. Art collectors have recognized the importance of this genre and have been purchasing these works since they began trickling into the United States in the 1990's.
When the Bolshevik Revolution erupted in the
early 1900's, the borders of Russia were closed to the outside
world for over 70 years. The international art market had little
knowledge of or exposure to the artistic trends developing during
that time. It wasn't until Perestroika reopened these borders
that the western world was exposed to these talented Russian artists.
Soviet Realism (also known as Propaganda Art) portrays art commissioned
by the Soviet Regime glorifying the benefits of communism and
the ordinary Russian worker. Russian Impressionism took this one
step further and abstracted their political environment and hardships;
the impressionists found inspiration and strength in the power
of nature and the human spirit, unlike their French counterparts
who chose to depict the lives and entertainment of the leisure
class. Leisure was something the Russians did not have.
The Soviet Government was determined to produce an artistic legacy,
but until only recently it was hidden from view from the rest
of the world. The artists showcased by Elder Art Gallery were
rigorously trained for 6-10 years and only after completing an
advanced academic degree were they able to become members of the
Union of Russian Artists. They were given a stipend, supplies,
a studio and commissions as well as access to an 'Academician
Dacha' in the Veronezh region. They dedicated their lives as artists
to training and their art. Since their only patrons were the Soviet
government and their only venues organized exhibitions, they were
never faced with market influences. They were able to paint beautiful
works which captured the essence of soviet life without worrying
what would 'sell' to the general public. However, many of their
paintings were kept hidden from the government since they were
not approved subject matter.
The Soviet people lived through incredible hardships during the
70 years of communist rule, which were only compounded by the
German invasion of WWII and the collectivization by Krouchev.
Families were torn apart in order to build frontier settlements,
yet the artists portray none of this horror. Instead we see a
stoic, robust people immortalized forever in oil tender, worn,
contemplative and most of all, heroic.
For more information check our NC Commercial Gallery listings, call the gallery at 704/370-6337, or on the web at (www.elderart.com).
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