Abstraction

Maria ELKONINA. Objects. 1957—2007

Maria Bodrova

Article: 
CURRENT EXHIBITIONS
Magazine issue: 
#4 2007 (17)

Maria Viktorovna Elkonina, by virtue of her birth into the family of the prominent artists Viktor Borisovich and Nadezhda Mikhailovna Elkonin, was pre-destined to follow the family’s calling. Through her father, who was a member of the “Four Arts” group, and through his artist friends she became acquainted with Paul Cezanne’s art. Elkonina still considers Cezanne the initiator of all of the 20th century’s artistic innovations.

Maria ELKONINA. Objects. 1957—2007

Maria Viktorovna Elkonina, by virtue of her birth into the family of the prominent artists Viktor Borisovich and Nadezhda Mikhailovna Elkonin, was pre-destined to follow the family’s calling. Through her father, who was a member of the “Four Arts” group, and through his artist friends she became acquainted with Paul Cezanne’s art. Elkonina still considers Cezanne the initiator of all of the 20th century’s artistic innovations.

Marking the150th Anniversary of Wassily Kandinsky's Birth

Natalia Avtonomova

Article: 
CURRENT EXHIBITIONS
Magazine issue: 
#2 2017 (55)

In 2016 the art world celebrated the 150th anniversary of the birth of Wassily Kandinsky (1866-1944). In Russia, the country where Kandinsky, the founder and theoretical architect of abstract art, was born, this was marked by a number of exhibitions in the country's major museums, as well as international conferences hosted by the leading Moscow higher educational institutions.

Marking the150th Anniversary of Wassily Kandinsky's Birth

In 2016 the art world celebrated the 150th anniversary of the birth of Wassily Kandinsky (1866-1944). In Russia, the country where Kandinsky, the founder and theoretical architect of abstract art, was born, this was marked by a number of exhibitions in the country's major museums, as well as international conferences hosted by the leading Moscow higher educational institutions.

CALDER: SCULPTOR OF AIR

Alexander S.C. Rower

Article: 
“GRANY” FOUNDATION PRESENTS
Magazine issue: 
#4 2009 (25)

From 23 October 2009 to 14 February 2010 the Palazzo delle Esposizioni (Rome) will present over 160 works by Alexander Calder, including mobiles, stabiles, monumental sculpture, oil and gouache paintings, bronze, wire and wood sculptures and jewelry in an exhibition curated by Alexander S.C. Rower, President of the Calder Foundation.

CALDER: SCULPTOR OF AIR

From 23 October 2009 to 14 February 2010 the Palazzo delle Esposizioni (Rome) will present over 160 works by Alexander Calder, including mobiles, stabiles, monumental sculpture, oil and gouache paintings, bronze, wire and wood sculptures and jewelry in an exhibition curated by Alexander S.C. Rower, President of the Calder Foundation.

Remembering Mark Rothko

Irving Sandler

Article: 
CURRENT EXHIBITIONS
Magazine issue: 
#2 2010 (27)

The show of 13 great paintings by Mark Rothko at the Garage Centre for Contemporary Culture in Moscow prompts me to recall my friendship with the artist. The abstractions range in date from a “multiform” of 1949, the year that Rothko arrived at his mature style, to a profoundly tragic “landscape” of 1970, the year of his death. As a young art critic, I was fortunate to witness at first hand the evolution of Rothko’s abstractions from 1956, when I first met him, to the end of his life, and to interview the artist about six times about his motivations and ideas.

Remembering Mark Rothko

The show of 13 great paintings by Mark Rothko at the Garage Centre for Contemporary Culture in Moscow prompts me to recall my friendship with the artist. The abstractions range in date from a “multiform” of 1949, the year that Rothko arrived at his mature style, to a profoundly tragic “landscape” of 1970, the year of his death.

Andy Warhol. The Last Decade

Anne Mannix

Article: 
INTERNATIONAL PANORAMA
Magazine issue: 
#4 2010 (29)

The Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA) was the final venue of the four-museum tour to present the first U.S. museum exhibition exploring the late works of the iconic American artist Andy Warhol (1928-1987). On view there from October 2010 through January 2011, more than 50 works revealed the Pop artistʼs energetic return to painting and renewed spirit of experimentation during the last decade of his life. This period shows Warhol in the midst of his celebrity creating more paintings and on a vastly larger scale than at any other moment of his 40-year career. Exhibition highlights include psychologically revealing fright wig self-portraits, three variations on Leonardo da Vinciʼs The Last Supper, and collaborations with younger artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat. Several of these works – assembled from national and international public and private collections, as well as the BMAʼs exceptional collection of late works by Warhol – were not exhibited until after the artistʼs death.

2013_4_art_11_th.jpg

AFTER TRAVELING THROUGHOUT 2010 FROM THE MILWAUKEE ART MUSEUM, TO THE MODERN ART MUSEUM OF FORT WORTH, AND THE BROOKLYN MUSEUM IN NEW YORK, THE LANDMARK SHOW OF WARHOL'S LATE WORK CLOSED AT THE BALTIMORE MUSEUM OF ART IN JANUARY 2011.

Remembering Mark Rothko

Irving Sandler

Magazine issue: 
Special issue N1. USA–RUSSIA: ON THE CROSSROADS OF CULTURES

The show of 13 great paintings by Mark Rothko at the Garage Centre for Contemporary Culture in Moscow prompts me to recall my friendship with the artist. The abstractions range in date from a “multiform” of 1949, the year that Rothko arrived at his mature style, to a profoundly tragic “landscape” of 1970, the year of his death. As a young art critic, I was fortunate to witness at first hand the evolution of Rothko’s abstractions from 1956, when I first met him, to the end of his life, and to interview the artist about six times about his motivations and ideas.

Remembering Mark Rothko

THE SHOW OF 13 GREAT PAINTINGS BY MARK ROTHKO AT THE GARAGE CENTRE FOR CONTEMPORARY CULTURE IN MOSCOW PROMPTS ME TO RECALL MY FRIENDSHIP WITH THE ARTIST. THE ABSTRACTIONS RANGE IN DATE FROM A "MULTIFORM" OF 1949, THE YEAR THAT ROTHKO ARRIVED AT HIS MATURE STYLE, TO A PROFOUNDLY TRAGIC "LANDSCAPE" OF 1970, THE YEAR OF HIS DEATH.

Nikolai Silis. The Palindrome Artist

Olga Gerasimova

Article: 
PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST
Magazine issue: 
#1 2015 (46)

THE SCULPTOR NIKOLAI SILIS WAS BORN IN 1928 IN MOSCOW, IN THE GRAUERMAN MATERNITY HOSPITAL ON THE ARBAT: THE SILIS FAMILY LIVED NEARBY, IN A COMMUNAL FLAT ON GOGOLEVSKY BOULEVARD. HIS FATHER, ANDREI SILIS, WAS SHOT IN DECEMBER 1941, ON TRUMPED-UP CHARGES, IN THE UKHTIZHEMLAG LABOUR CAMP. HIS MOTHER, YEKATERINA, MIRACULOUSLY SURVIVED THE BLOCKADE OF LENINGRAD, WHERE THE FAMILY HAD TO MOVE AFTER THE FATHER'S ARREST. YEKATERINA SUCCEEDED IN SENDING HER TWO SONS, THE OLDER RUFIM AND THE YOUNGER VADIM, AWAY TO RELATIVES LIVING NEAR THE TOWN OF KALININ.

Nikolai Silis. The Palindrome Artist

THE SCULPTOR NIKOLAI SILIS WAS BORN IN 1928 IN MOSCOW, IN THE GRAUERMAN MATERNITY HOSPITAL ON THE ARBAT: THE SILIS FAMILY LIVED NEARBY, IN A COMMUNAL FLAT ON GOGOLEVSKY BOULEVARD. HIS FATHER, ANDREI SILIS, WAS SHOT IN DECEMBER 1941, ON TRUMPED-UP CHARGES, IN THE UKHTIZHEMLAG LABOUR CAMP. HIS MOTHER, YEKATERINA, MIRACULOUSLY SURVIVED THE BLOCKADE OF LENINGRAD, WHERE THE FAMILY HAD TO MOVE AFTER THE FATHER'S ARREST. YEKATERINA SUCCEEDED IN SENDING HER TWO SONS, THE OLDER RUFIM1 AND THE YOUNGER VADIM, AWAY TO RELATIVES LIVING NEAR THE TOWN OF KALININ.

H.M. QUEEN SONJA'S ART COLLECTION

Karin Hellandsjø

Article: 
INTERNATIONAL PANORAMA
Magazine issue: 
#4 2012 (37)

Queen Sonja’s personal engagement in Norwegian art and culture goes back a long way. Over the years, the Queen has actively participated in Norway’s artistic and cultural spheres not just as its high patron but also as an important key figure; her efforts in casting light upon and promoting Norwegian art has gained her respect throughout Norway and far beyond.

H.M. QUEEN SONJA'S ART COLLECTION

IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY. WE WERE ON A HIKE IN NORTHERN NORWAY. IN LEIRFJORD A LARGE RECTANGULAR STEEL INSTALLATION HAD BEEN PLACED IN THE LANDSCAPE. EVERYONE THOUGHT IT WAS ODD. BUT I INSISTED - WE SHOULD NOT BE DISCOURAGED. WE SHOULD GO AND HAVE A LOOK! AS WE APPROACHED, WE SAW THAT THE SEEMINGLY RANDOMLY SITED CONSTRUCTION FRAMED THE LANDSCAPE IN AN INFINITE NUMBER OF PERSPECTIVES, DEPENDING UPON WHERE ONE WAS STANDING. THE LANDSCAPE HAD BEEN THERE SINCE THE DAWN OF TIME. ART HELPS US REALIZE THAT. WHAT MORE CAN WE ASK?

Goncharova, Music and Theatre

Inessa Kouteinikova

Article: 
CURRENT EXHIBITIONS
Magazine issue: 
#1 2014 (42)

NATALIA GONCHAROVAS SUBTLE, DISTINGUISHED, HIGHLY MUSICAL AND LEARNED DESIGNS FOR THE THEATRE ELUCIDATE A FUNDAMENTAL SHIFT FROM THE EMPHASIS ON THE BOMBASTIC, GLORY-OBSESSED CELEBRATIONS FOR DIAGHILEV'S SPECTACLES TO PERFORMANCES THAT STRESSED THE VIRTUES OF INDIVIDUALITY, FANTASY AND HISTORY. DIAGHILEV'S ABSOLUTE POWER WITHIN THE RUSSIAN WORLD OF THEATRE, SIMILAR TO THAT OF LOUIS XIV, RESIDED IN ITS REPRESENTATION AND CONTROL OF THAT REPRESENTATION, WHICH RESIDED NOT ONLY WITH DIAGHILEV BUT ALSO WITH HIS ARTISTS, WHO, LIKE THE KING'S HISTORIOGRAPHERS, CREATED THEATRICAL IMAGES ON WHICH THE OPINION OF POSTERITY DEPENDED.

Goncharova, Music and Theatre

NATALIA GONCHAROVAS SUBTLE, DISTINGUISHED, HIGHLY MUSICAL AND LEARNED DESIGNS FOR THE THEATRE ELUCIDATE A FUNDAMENTAL SHIFT FROM THE EMPHASIS ON THE BOMBASTIC, GLORY-OBSESSED CELEBRATIONS FOR DIAGHILEV'S SPECTACLES TO PERFORMANCES THAT STRESSED THE VIRTUES OF INDIVIDUALITY, FANTASY AND HISTORY.

H.M. QUEEN SONJA'S ART COLLECTION

Karin Hellandsjø

Article: 
INTERNATIONAL PANORAMA
Magazine issue: 
Special issue. NORWAY–RUSSIA: ON THE CROSSROADS OF CULTURES

Queen Sonja’s personal engagement in Norwegian art and culture goes back a long way. Over the years, the Queen has actively participated in Norway’s artistic and cultural spheres not just as its high patron but also as an important key figure; her efforts in casting light upon and promoting Norwegian art has gained her respect throughout Norway and far beyond.

H.M. QUEEN SONJA'S ART COLLECTION

IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY. WE WERE ON A HIKE IN NORTHERN NORWAY. IN LEIRFJORD A LARGE RECTANGULAR STEEL INSTALLATION HAD BEEN PLACED IN THE LANDSCAPE. EVERYONE THOUGHT IT WAS ODD. BUT I INSISTED - WE SHOULD NOT BE DISCOURAGED. WE SHOULD GO AND HAVE A LOOK! AS WE APPROACHED, WE SAW THAT THE SEEMINGLY RANDOMLY SITED CONSTRUCTION FRAMED THE LANDSCAPE IN AN INFINITE NUMBER OF PERSPECTIVES, DEPENDING UPON WHERE ONE WAS STANDING. THE LANDSCAPE HAD BEEN THERE SINCE THE DAWN OF TIME. ART HELPS US REALIZE THAT. WHAT MORE CAN WE ASK?

Syndicate content