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Monday, 07.02.2011
Socialist Art – Nostalgia returning or enlightenment?
Moscow/Rome. Russian museum visitors do not frown upon the aesthetics of art from the socialist realism era. Over the last three years Alexander Dejneka‘s art has received renewed attention as well as healthy finance.
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Italy declared 2011 as the year of Russian culture and language. It was announced that a comprehensive collection of the artist Alexander Dejneka will be one of the focal points of an exhibition opening in Rome mid-February.
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It is to no surprise that the socialist realist Alexander Dejneka is representing Russian paintings in the culture city of Rome. Dejneka traveled in the 1930s several times through Italy and created there several atmospheric paintings which through their style take a center point in his exhibition.
Above all, this collection reflects the current standing of Alexander Dejneka in the Russian museum life, where he already has been in the lime light for the last 3 years thanks to his 110th birthday celebration
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Multi-year project financed by billionaire Potanin
The actual anniversary was in 2009 and was celebrated with an exhibition of his graphics in the Tretyakov Gallery that lasted for nearly six months. This represented only a fraction of all the works of perhaps the best known artist of the socialist realism era.
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Hence, one year later, the Tretyakov Gallery organised a further exhibition of Dejneka's works that included all his paintings, mosaics and sculptures from the 1920s to 1960s era. At the same time the substantial albums, 'Dejneka graphics' and 'Dejneka paintings' were published.
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Both, the extensive book production and the exhibitions were financed by the billionaire Vladimir Potanin and his Holding company 'Interror'. This foundation also sponsors the roman show. Additionally the third album in the series, dedicated to Dejneka's substantial collection, is being prepared for publication. This volume will be published later on this year.
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Socialist Realism shows: Large number of visitors garanteed
Whether the museums are displaying the for two centuries disgraced art form as a new one or if they are just reflecting the nostalgic feelings of the spectators, socialist realism is garanteed to attrackt large numbers of visitors.
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The previous fall people queued up in front of the Trejtacov gallery to view works of another socialist, Pjotr Kontchalovski. Arseni Semjonov, Isaak Brodski and Jewgeni Wutchetitch as well as other not so well known artists of the same era, too, received more attention over the last few years.
Not only the Tretyakov Gallery or the Central House of Artists but also contemporary art galleries like Winswod and some smaller private galleries enjoy dealing with socialist art.
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They are not only supported by the Potanin empire but also other enterprises. For example in 2009 the State owned Nuclear Energy company Rosatom hosted exhibitions of the socialist realism, known as 'era of happiness' in serveral Russian regions.
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Socialist realism not well known and not understood?
According to a number of museum organisers visitors to such exhibitions are not longing for the sovyet past but only just recognising socialist realism as an art form and starting to analyze the aesthetic and artifice of the era.
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Socialists artists could only exhibit what was allowed in the Soviet Union. Works with individualism and hidden criticism existed but were never displayed. They still need to be found, says Irina Ostarkova, coordinator of cultural programs for the Potanin foundation on Russia News.
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Even Alexander Dejneka was unjustifietly restricted and only known for his 'Defense of Sevastropol' and few paintings from old text books according to her.
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It is time to raise more awareness and understanding for his work and that in Russia as well as abroad, says the expert.
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