Sculpture

The second half of the 19th century brought Russian art a number of talented masters, whose names have now largely been forgotten by specialists. Despite the fact that his work speaks volumes about the period of its creation with its problems and contradictions, the sculptor Alexander Opekushin is precisely one such undervalued figure.

Alexander Rukavishnikov belongs to the third generation of a remarkable sculptural dynasty. Equally and extraordinarily accomplished in both monumental and medium-scale sculpture, his work has developed organically out of that of his grandfather, Mitrofan, and of his father, Iulian, alike.

Founder of one of the most prominent dynasties of Russian sculptors, Mitrofan Rukavishnikov was born on May 24 1887 in Nizhny Novgorod, into the family of Sergei (Mikhailovich) Rukavishnikov, son of the well-known Nizhny Novgorod merchant Mikhail (Grigorievich) Rukavishnikov. In 1901, at the age of 14, Mitrofan enrolled in the Emperor Alexander II Nizhegorodsky Institute for Noblemen’s Children, where he studied for six years, until 1907. After graduation the young man was still undecided about his future. He explained in his autobiography: “In the years of my initial awakening to the realities of life, in the years of my youth, in my school years, when I came to love all forms of art and especially the synthesizing forms, I, anticipating the colossus of art as a whole, began to consider my first attempts at creation as amateurish and decided to choose the path of ‘hard’ science.”

As part of the 260th anniversary of the Russian Academy of Arts, its current president, the sculptor Zurab Tsereteli, spoke at the beginning of September with the “Tretyakov Gallery” Magazine about the Academy’s past, its present and future - and his own artistic plans.
Zurab Konstantinovich, the Russian Academy of Arts is celebrating its 260th anniversary with an impressively rich programme of events. Which of them would you single out?

The Russian Academy of Arts is the natural successor of the Academy of Fine Arts and Sciences, which was founded in 1724 by Peter the Great; nevertheless, it should be noted that the Imperial Academy of Arts, as a separate entity, was established in 1757. As for this anniversary year, we are planning quite a number of extraordinary events to commemorate the Academy's 260th birthday, including exhibitions, conferences, masterclasses, and publications.

One example is our major exhibition conceived as a chronicle of everything we have achieved over the last decade. All the Academy's branches, affiliates, research and educational programmes will be represented. This is our first interactive exhibition: the viewer will be able to see everything on screens, including extensive information on the Academy's work, the most up-to-date artistic trends and advanced technologies. The Academy's regional branches will also be organizing exhibitions in Saratov and Krasnoyarsk; our traditional conference, the “Alpatov lectures", will be dedicated to the anniversary as well.

For any Russian artist, no matter how well known, a one-man show at the State Tretyakov Gallery is a very special event. And for the Buryat sculptor Dashi Namdakov, whose numerous exhibitions in the museums and galleries of Russia, America, Europe and Asia have already won him international fame and recognition, the display of his works, sculpture, graphics and jewellery, in one of the Tretyakov’s finest rooms in Lavrushinsky Pereulok, is obviously the most important and responsible moment in his creative life. This exhibition in the country’s main national museum is well-deserved recognition of his art, as well as an assessment of his place and role in the present-day artistic life of Russia and an act of great confidence in the talent and personality of this young artist and the future that lies ahead of him.