Art / Painting

The Growth of Drawing Culture in Kyrgyzstan

Dozens of exhibited drawings were created by painters S. Chuykov (“Drawing,” 1963, canvas), G. Aitiev (“At the Monument to Mickiewicz,” 1959; “Gate to the Palace of Versailles,” 1964; marker; “Louvre,” 1965, marker), D. Fleckman (“Old Man,” 1971, charcoal; “Boy,” 1972, pastel), A. Ignatiev (“Street in Brașov (Romania),” 1973, marker; “Street in a Working District of Naples,” 1969), A. Usubaliev (“Girl with a Book,” 1970, canvas; “Damira,” 1970, canvas), B. Jumabaev (“Friends,” 1978, pen, ink;

25.09.2014, 22:55

Art / Painting

Pencil Drawings by B. Koshoyev

The feather and pencil drawings by B. Koshoyev are distinctive, abundant with mass scenes, character types, details from folk life, and panoramic landscapes of nature (“Toys,” 1968, ink; “Mountains,” 1974, pencil; triptych “Spring of the 60th Anniversary of October,” 1977, gouache; series “Kyrgyz National Games,” 1979, gouache, etc.). Despite the conventionality of the images, they are characterized by a delicate observation, precision of the contour line outlining figures and objects with a

25.09.2014, 22:36

Art / Painting

Adherent of Natural Drawing T. Herzen

One of the steadfast proponents of natural drawing is T. Herzen. He is characterized by both quick, lively sketches and detailed drawn compositions. In his best landscape drawings done in pencil and pastel, he is sensitive to the life of nature and lyrical. His panoramic-epic landscape pastels from the cycle "Mountain Motifs of Kyrgyzstan" (1980-1981) create a majestic image of mountain nature, rich in colors and forms. The motifs of these sheets are mainly inspired by the places

25.09.2014, 22:22

Art / Painting

Pencil Drawings by E. Kuzovkin and N. Yevdokimov

The pencil drawings by E. Kuzovkin, as noted by critics, "clearly reveal the hand of an engraver... capable of seeing and interpreting the phenomena of reality, making adjustments for the peculiarities of technique and the nature of the material right in the process of work." The evolution of his drawings is linked to his development as a master of linocut. For instance, the series of spatial narrative sketches "Aunt Dora's Estate" (1972) is closer to the artist's

25.09.2014, 22:04

Art / Painting

Natural and Compositional Drawing — The Focus of R. Nudel's Attention

Natural and compositional drawing is a subject of close attention from R. Nudel, a multifaceted artist who is constantly evolving. In the 1950s, due to serious work on industrial themes in watercolor, he created a multitude of landscape and interior drawings in pencil, in which he aimed to aesthetically comprehend the achievements of the technical age in Kyrgyzstan ("Evening Rhythms" from the series "Everyday Life of the Capital," 1970, drawing 198; "Factory

25.09.2014, 21:46

Art / Painting

Natural Drawing — The Foundation of the Print and Lithograph Cycles by A. Sgibnev and A. Ostashev

Nature drawing is the foundation of the cycles of engravings and lithographs by A. Sgibnev. He was accustomed to traveling extensively throughout the republic, creating hundreds of lively sketches with a pen, pencil, and marker during his trips. He often held exhibitions in high mountain pastures, field camps, and border outposts. The vast factual material captured in his drawings was creatively interpreted and transformed into compositional easel sheets. Sgibnev also created finished drawings

25.09.2014, 21:32

Art / Painting

One of the Leading Masters of Drawing A. Mikhalev

One of the leading masters of drawing in the collective of graphic artists of Kyrgyzstan in the 60s and 70s was A. Mikhalev. In his modest life drawings, primarily landscapes and less frequently portraits, the artist aimed to convey the characteristic aspects of nature, as well as his relationship to artistic form. "The artist, in working on form, deals with two things — the object and space. These two opposites are the main components of the image. Space struggles with the object, trying

25.09.2014, 21:01

Art / Painting

Talented Illustrator B. Jumabaev

B. Jumabaev was a talented artist. His vibrant compositional gift allowed him to work with equal ease from life and from imagination. His drawings are compositional and imbued with a lively line that always clearly creates form both in its movement and in harmony with other forms. Even his early drawings from the 1960s bear the mark of talent — these are artistically drawn with line, unexpectedly fresh, and precise pencil and ink drawings ("At the Market," 1960, canvas;

25.09.2014, 20:40

Art / Painting

L. A. Ilyina is extraordinarily versatile in drawing.

The work of L. A. Ilyina, who operates in easel and book engraving without detailed sketch development, is significantly complemented by drawings in pencil, ink, pastel, marker, sanguine, and black watercolor. Here, she also works with precise and economical means, but more freely, sometimes in a more intimate manner. Without losing the individuality of her artistic thinking, Ilyina is extraordinarily versatile in drawing, rich in ways of understanding nature. In the 1960s, Ilyina draws a lot

25.09.2014, 20:02

Art / Painting

Drawing

Drawing has always held a fundamental place in Kyrgyz visual art, which from its very beginnings has followed the path of direct study of life and its realistic representation. Remarkable life drawings that vividly reveal the principle of realistic artistic thinking were created by S. Chuykov, V. Obraztsov, B. Witz, L. Mesarosh, and G. Aitieva. Interest in drawing increased with the arrival in Kyrgyzstan in the late 1930s of professional graphic artists L. Ilyina and A. Mikhalev. During the

25.09.2014, 19:44

Art / Painting

Experienced and Young Artists in the Field of Book Illustration

The experienced book artists include M. Akhmedov, who illustrated the works of Ch. Aitmatov and other Kyrgyz writers and poets, Yu. Kim, K. Seitaliev, A. Yeroshchenko, who pay much attention to the design of children's books and folk tales. A number of engaging illustrations for children's publications were created by D. Dzhumabaev, who possesses a lively, expressive drawing style (A. Usenbaev. Man and Tiger. 1977, gouache). In recent years, young artists such as A. Biymyrzaev (Ch.

24.09.2014, 18:01

Art / Painting

Vladimir Grigoryevich Rogachev - Illustrator and Art Editor

Vladimir Grigoryevich Rogachev was actively engaged in the field of book art in the 1960s. He designed and illustrated over fifty publications. He also did significant work as an art editor. His illustrations for children's books were typically amusing, colorful watercolors and gouaches (M. Menshikov. "There is such a girl," "Mektep," 1965; K. Abdrakhmanov. "Why doesn't water break?" "Mektep," 1968; Ya. Zemlyak. "Are there any kids like

24.09.2014, 17:47

Art / Painting

Dozens of Books by Kyrgyz Writers Illustrated by Ivan Fyodorovich Bulba

Dozens of books by Kyrgyz writers were illustrated by Ivan Fedorovich Bulba, who contributed to the development of the publishing industry in the republic as an artistic editor. Among his best works are the illustrations for the poetry collection "Rolling Clouds" by S. Dzhusuev (1969, linocut), the books "Tree of Life" by Zh. Abdykalikov (1971, linocut), "Appeal to People" by A. Berdibayev (1972, linocut), which was awarded a diploma at the All-Union competition

24.09.2014, 17:31

Art / Painting

Vladimir Alexandrovich Maximov - Master of Hand-Drawn Typography

Vladimir Alexandrovich Maximov entered the history of book graphics in Kyrgyzstan primarily as a master of drawn font. His explorations in this field are connected with the work on the construction and design of books, as well as work in posters and ex-libris. In his typographic compositions of various kinds, he demonstrates a high level of graphic culture, artistic taste, and creative imagination. Among his best works are the typographic section of the photo album "Soviet

24.09.2014, 17:22

Art / Painting

V. Gladkov - as an Illustrator and Book Designer

V. Gladkov is known in the republic as an illustrator and designer of books, paying attention to both the figurative and substantive aspects of illustrations and the organization of the entire ensemble of the book. He is characterized by broad creative interests, thoughtful reading of literary works, and an active search for expressiveness in graphic language. He has illustrated both books by Kyrgyz writers and works of Russian and world classics. His creative success includes the

24.09.2014, 17:11

Art / Painting

Illustrator of Works by Kyrgyz Writers Alexander Ivanovich Misyurev

A. Misyurev fruitfully designed books published by republican publishing houses. He illustrated works by Kyrgyz writers Ch. Aitmatov ("Soldatenok," 1974, linocut), A. Tokombaev ("My Republic," 1974, linocut), T. Sydykbekov ("Address to Man," 1969, linocut), B. Zhakiev ("Meetings in the City of Winds," 1969, monotype), and other representatives of multinational Soviet literature (L. Tatyanycheva. "Zoryanka," 1973, wood engraving). He

23.09.2014, 13:12

Art / Painting

Talented Illustrator of the Kyrgyz Book Belek Jumabaev

The talented illustrator of the Kyrgyz book was Belek Jumabaev, who possessed a unique perception of life and art, with a light, artistic drawing style. After familiarizing himself with various graphic techniques, he focused on drawing and zincography, in which he created his main works in book graphics. He quickly mastered the culture of book design, but saw his main task in the imagery of the illustrations, in their harmony with the idea and style of the literary work. He illustrated the

23.09.2014, 12:44

Art / Painting

A. S. Ostashev in the Book Trade

A. S. Ostashev devoted a lot of effort to the book industry, having established himself as a master of illustration, a well-known designer, and editor of various publications with different purposes and characteristics. He repeatedly and successfully illustrated the works of Kyrgyz writers. His work in this field was combined with serious study of the history and spiritual culture of the Kyrgyz people, their way of life, and the characters of individuals. Without knowledge of the life material

23.09.2014, 12:24

Art / Painting

Book Illustration

The art of book illustration in Kyrgyzstan until the turn of the 50s and 60s was almost exclusively represented by the works of L. Ilyina, who mainly collaborated with central publishing houses. In the 60s, due to the overall rise of publishing and the general culture of book graphics in the country, as well as local prerequisites—strengthening the printing base and the emergence of specialists in the field of artistic book design—book illustration developed more diversely in the republic and

21.09.2014, 18:45

Art / Painting

Etching, Ex Libris, Lithography, Linocut

Belek Koshoev mastered the technique of etching with great finesse. His etchings "Catching a Horse" (1970), "Mountains" (1974), "Yurt by the River" (1974) are characterized by an elegant linear rhythm, sharpness, and precision in conveying the movements of form, with a subtle stylization reminiscent of medieval graphics of the peoples of the Far East. Their main virtue is the imagery that reveals the artist's love for folk life and cultural traditions. In

21.09.2014, 18:06

Art / Painting

Roman Beniaminovich Nudel, Vasily Savelievich Gladkov, Vladimir Grigoryevich Rogachev - masters of drawing, watercolor, and book illustration

From time to time, artists whose main creative energies are devoted to other areas of graphic art—drawing, watercolor, the genre of book illustration—have made their mark in printmaking. In the early 1960s, Roman Beniaminovich Nudel began working in printmaking ("Poppies," color lithograph, 1960; "At the Intersection," 1961, etching, aquatint), later developing as a watercolorist and draftsman. In the 1980s, he experienced a renewed interest in printmaking. Using the

21.09.2014, 17:47

Art / Painting

Myrsa Omorkulov

In printmaking, Myrsa Omorkulov has repeatedly tested his skills, although his favorite technique is watercolor. In the 1960s, he created colored linocuts for the series "The Road from Frunze to Osh" (1961). Here, the artist faced challenges related to mastering a new technique that required a certain discipline of thought and plastic generalizations. In the best sheet of the series "A Bridge is Being Built," the author managed to "convey his admiration for the

21.09.2014, 17:34

Art / Painting

The Artist of Realistic Vision of Life Melis Haidarovich Akhmedov

Among the artists of specifically realistic vision of life is Melis Haidarovich Akhmedov, who has been working in easel and book graphics since the early 1970s. As an easel artist, like other masters, he predominantly works on thematic series, which he always creates based on natural material. His work is characterized by a narrative-plot nature of the image, knowledge of folk life, and interest in details and ethnographic specifics. The object-spatial fullness of the sheet and factuality have

21.09.2014, 17:26

Art / Painting

The Studio Print in the Works of Alexander Ivanovich Misyurev

Stationary print is one aspect of the work of Alexander Ivanovich Misyurev. He is proficient in the techniques of linocut and lithography. Alongside his work in book graphics, watercolor, and oil painting, he has created significant thematic stationary cycles and individual sheets. The triptych of linocuts "In Difficult Years" (1972) and the autolithograph "For Soviet Power" (1974) are dedicated to the events of the Civil War. The triptych of linocuts "Stages of a

21.09.2014, 17:12

Art / Painting

The Singer of the Mountain Nature of Kyrgyzstan, Artist-Climber Afanasy Lazarevich Shubin

The singer of the mountain nature of Kyrgyzstan was the prematurely deceased artist-climber Afanasy Lazarevich Shubin, who worked in linocut, lithography, and etching. In his best prints, he created a romantic image of the highlands and the courage of people. The difficulties of hiking life, the brilliance of unconquered peaks, the sharp taste of risk, a moment of silence before the assault, the triumph of victory—all of this naturally and effortlessly found its way onto his sheets. This was

18.09.2014, 23:39

Art / Painting

Artist of Solid Professional Training - Theodor Theodorovich Herzen

The place of the print (mainly linocut) occupies a significant role in the work of the multifaceted artist Theodor Theodorovich Herzen— a master of monumental painting, draftsman, and book illustrator. In engraving, as in other areas of Herzen's creativity, there lies a fundamental realistic foundation. He is an artist with solid professional training, clear artistic thinking, and a commitment to working from nature. Typically, his easel graphic compositions are expansive narrative

18.09.2014, 23:19

Art / Painting

The Gift of Yevgeny Gennadievich Kuzovkin in Black-and-White Linocut

The talent of Evgeny Gennadievich Kuzovkin is most fully revealed in black-and-white linocut. Even his early works from the 1960s captivated with their poetic vision, decorative elegance, and originality of artistic style” (A. Moldokhmatova). The lyrical line of the artist's creativity continues in the engravings “Noon” (1967), “Rainbow” (1968), “Red Horsemen” (1968). In his further development, Kuzovkin maintained an interest in socially significant themes, evolving stylistically,

18.09.2014, 22:42

Art / Painting

Arkady Sergeyevich Ostashev — an Artist of Deeply Realistic Nature

New trends in printmaking in Kyrgyzstan are associated with the work of artists who entered the art scene of the republic at the turn of the 1950s and 1960s and in the 1970s. These include A. Ostashev, M. Omorkulov, V. Gladkov, R. Nudel, A. Turumbekov, E. Kuzovkin, A. Shubin, A. Misyurev, B. Jumabaev, I. Bulba, V. Maximov, M. Akhmedov, B. Koshoyev, many of whom have developed into distinctive masters. A significant contribution to the development of Kyrgyz printmaking was made by Arkadiy

18.09.2014, 22:21

Art / Painting

Joseph Antonovich Belevich and the Techniques of Printmaking

In various printmaking techniques (lithography, etching, linocut), Joseph Antonovich Belevich worked extensively. He created large cycles such as "In the Advanced Brigades" (1960, autolithography), "Among the City Executives" (1966, autolithography), "Kyrgyzstan is Being Built" (1966, linocut), and numerous individual prints dedicated to the present day of the republic. Belevich, with his keen ability to observe distinct traits of nature, which he studies closely

18.09.2014, 21:38

Art / Painting

Masters of the Older Generation

The senior generation masters L. Truskowski, N. Efremenko, A. Mikhalev, and I. Belevich contributed to the development of various techniques of printed graphics, creating a number of works that became part of the main collection of easel graphics in the republic. In the print sub-genres of graphics, the best works of Lev Gavrilovich Truskowski were created. One of his best works is the series of colored linocuts and lithographs "Through Kyrgyzstan" (1960), dedicated to the

18.09.2014, 21:19

Art / Painting

Master of Printmaking Andrey Nikolaevich Mikhalev

For Andrei Nikolaevich Mikhalyev, as a master of printmaking, the technique of lithography is the closest, allowing for freedom, spatiality, and painterly and textural effects in graphic images. He was one of the first to turn to color lithography, creating in the early 1960s a series titled "In Przhevalsk" (1961). These genre color autolithographs, connected by a common theme, tell the story of the life of the working youth of Kyrgyzstan during those years. Based on his

18.09.2014, 20:54

Art / Painting

The Art of Linocut by Akim Alekseevich Sgibnev

Akim Alekseevich Sgibnev mastered various types of graphic techniques, focusing primarily on linocut in its black-and-white and colored variants. His sheets from the 60s and 70s are rich in natural observations, character types, genre scenes, and landscape motifs drawn from numerous trips across the republic. Sgibnev is unique both in his choice of thematic aspects and in his interpretation of graphic form. The absence of a professional school for this artist is compensated by his study of

18.09.2014, 20:17

Art / Painting

Master of Kyrgyz and Soviet Graphics Lydia Alexandrovna Ilyina

In the technique of linocut, the main series of prints and dozens of individual sheets by Lydia Alexandrovna Ilina have been created, which, along with her works in books, have placed her among the leading masters of Kyrgyz and Soviet graphics, gaining recognition both in our country and abroad. The bold, decisive language of linocut turned out to be the most adequate to the character of the figurative thinking of this master, who freely masters all printmaking techniques, and whose name is

18.09.2014, 01:36

Art / Sculpture

Fertile Development of the Chamber-Psychological Line of the Sculptural Portrait

Working in Kyrgyzstan in the 1960s and 70s, A. Bekdzhanyan introduced conditionally decorative techniques of Armenian plasticity into his portrait works ("Head of a Girl," 1972, chamotte; "Djamila," 1970, wood). In the 70s and 80s, the sculptural portrait was represented by D. Zholchuev ("Male Portrait"), V. Zukhin ("Portrait of Professor Kruglov"), and R. Shikova ("Study. Portrait of Composer Maldybaev," 1979, chamotte). The potential for

17.09.2014, 23:08

Art / Sculpture

Master of Chamber Psychological Portraits David Vladimirovich Kheidze

As a master of the chamber psychological portrait, David Vladimirovich Kheidze laid the foundation for the development of easel and monumental sculpture in southern Kyrgyzstan. Possessing a solid professional background and a realistic vision of form, the sculptor primarily emerged as a master of the chamber psychological portrait. Understanding the tasks of the portrait genre in the spirit of the traditions of Russian democratic art, he cares in his works about the accuracy of the plastic

17.09.2014, 22:50

Art / Sculpture

Portrait Sculptor A. Mukhtudinov

The sculptor A. Mukhtudinov primarily established himself as a portrait artist. Easily capturing the likeness of his subjects, he was somewhat constrained by academic training in his early works. Pieces such as "People's Artist of the USSR M. Ryskulov" (1964, plastic) and "Portrait of Geologist Adyshev" (1967, wood) are executed with professional skill, but rather dryly, without revealing the artist's personal relationship to the portrayed. However, in some

17.09.2014, 22:33

Art / Sculpture

The Versatility of the Portrait Artist V. Shestopal

The portrait occupies an important place in the work of V. Shestopal. The main direction here is the psychological portrait, revealing significant traits of a person's character and their belonging to the Soviet era. Among the portraits of workers, which are not equal in artistic merit, there are less figurative works, such as "Portrait of Abdykadyrov M., a lathe operator at the M. V. Frunze factory" (1984, metal), "Portrait of Akilbaeva A., a worker at the Frunze woolen

17.09.2014, 21:07

Art / Sculpture

A Unique Master of Portraits 3. Khabibulin

A distinctive master of portrait is 3. Khabibulin. His portraits are characterized by compositional and plastic variety, precision in conveying the emotional states of the subject. As a rule, the representativeness of the model does not matter to him. Often, his portraits are nameless, or their names add nothing to what the sculptural form itself conveys. They are appealing due to the subtle flow of the emotional life of the portrayed and less often due to an elaborated psychological

17.09.2014, 20:35

Art / Sculpture

Portrait Creativity of Turgunbay Sadikov

The extensive and vividly original portrait art of Turgunbai Sadykov captures the social and spiritual atmosphere of modern Kyrgyzstan. Through images of strong, integral characters—talented individuals known for their labor achievements, scientific or artistic endeavors—the artist affirms the significance of a personality shaped under socialism, embodying a high social and moral ideal. From his early works in sculptural portraiture, characterized by narrative quality and meticulously crafted

17.09.2014, 20:17

Art / Sculpture

Sculptural Portrait

Sculptural Portrait. The art of portraiture in Kyrgyz plastic art of the 1960s to 1980s, its noticeable evolution towards the complexity of the plastic image of a person, is associated with a new level of social development of the individual in our country, the growth of national self-awareness, and attention to the individual. In the field of portraiture, masters of the older generation continued to work, creating a number of remarkable images of their contemporaries. Among them is the

17.09.2014, 19:42

Theater

Theatrical and Decorative Art of Kyrgyzstan

In the photo: A.S. Arefyev, sketches of the decorations for the opera "Aychurek". V. Vlasov, A. Maldybaev, V. Fere, 1959

17.09.2014, 10:12

Painting / Famous personalities of Kyrgyzstan

Alexander Illarionovich Ignatiev — one of the leading artists of the republic

Alexander Illarionovich Ignatiev — one of the leading artists of the republic — also achieves the greatest success in landscape painting. At the creative conference of the Union of Artists of Kyrgyzstan, held in Moscow in 1946 during the opening of the All-Union Exhibition, G. Aitiev spoke about Ignatiev's works: "I consider Ignatiev's thematic landscapes... Such small landscapes can stand alongside large thematic works." In his paintings, man and nature live in harmonious

27.08.2014, 16:01

Painting

Paintings by Sabyrbek Akylbekov

Paintings by Sabyrbek Akylbekov In the paintings of Sabyrbek Akylbekov, the color palette is restrained but built on complex subtle shades. The landscapes are soft and harmonious in color, and although the artist avoids bright colors, his painting palette is tense and accurately expresses the majestic, strict hues of the native nature. The canvas "In the Fields of Kyrgyzstan" (1953) is the pinnacle of his creativity during this period. In this work, the features of the new life of

27.08.2014, 15:48

Painting / Artists of Kyrgyzstan

Outstanding Contemporary Artist Semyon Afanasyevich Chuykov

Outstanding contemporary artist Semyon Afanasyevich Chuykov In the post-war period, as in previous times, painting achieves significant success. The interest of artists in genre works reflecting the labor and everyday life of Soviet people increases even more. The theme of labor reflected the creative pathos and labor enthusiasm of Soviet people engaged in the restoration of the national economy. The most significant achievements in the field of genre painting, not only in Kyrgyzstan, are

27.08.2014, 15:19

Painting

VISUAL ART 1945—1960s

VISUAL ART 1945—1960 After the end of the Great Patriotic War, Kyrgyz visual art developed successfully based on the common methodological principles of Soviet art. The artists of the republic aimed to depict Soviet reality in all its diversity and to shape the personality of the new Soviet person. Their attention was primarily focused on revealing the spiritual world of the historical hero shaped by socialism, and, as will be shown further, not only in thematic paintings but even in

27.08.2014, 13:24

Architecture

Professional Education in Architecture

At the III Congress of Architects of Kyrgyzstan (1954), the issue of training personnel from the indigenous population was raised. This issue remained pressing at subsequent congresses, and only in 1965, at the initiative of the Union of Architects of Kyrgyzstan, was an architectural department established at the Frunze Polytechnic Institute, and from 1977, an architectural faculty was created. Most of the buildings constructed in the capital and cities of the republic were designed by local

10.08.2014, 15:43

Architecture

Architectural Competitions

The school for improving professional skills and discovering talents has been the participation of our architects in republican, all-union, and international competitions. The tradition of architectural competitions in the republic has a history of almost half a century. Competitions activate the creative activity of architects and help, especially the young ones, to find themselves. Public discussions held on the materials of the competition, which sometimes provoke lively debates, awaken

10.08.2014, 15:24

Architecture

Union of Architects of Kyrgyzstan

In connection with the adoption in 1976 by the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of the Law on the Protection and Use of Historical and Cultural Monuments, concerns were expressed at the congress about the fate of numerous monuments that are being destroyed in several regions of Kyrgyzstan. The twelfth congress (1986) of Kyrgyz architects was particularly significant, taking place in an atmosphere of great scrutiny and demands, criticism and self-criticism, and an understanding of the need to work

28.07.2014, 22:23