Boris
Yakovlevich Vorobiev

Russia • 1911−1990

Biography and information

Thesis in the CVC - "Wolf trap", the rating is satisfactory. Training (1938-1946) was held at the sculpture faculty. Awarded the title of artist-sculptor.

Sculptor-animal painter, worked in various materials, porcelain, faience, ceramics, glass, wood, metal

One of the leading sculptors of animals of the Leningrad porcelain factory, honored artist of the RSFSR, member of the all-Union and international exhibitions, works are in Museum and private collections.

From 1932 to 1935 he studied at the Moscow construction Institute. At one of the exhibitions in 1935, Boris Vorobyov divided first and second prize with another self-taught artist. This exhibition saw the accident who had come from Leningrad, a prominent Soviet artist I. I. Brodsky. He advised twenty-four architects, almost graduated from College, to begin seriously to study sculpture. The same advice was given to him and one of the largest animal painters such as V. A. Vatagin. And that was very important. After all, Vatagin illustrations to Rudyard Kipling's "the jungle Book" was one of the main shocks that prompted Vorobyov to engage in animalistic sculpture. And tip Mature artist made the young man believe in his calling.

In 1936, the sparrows left Moscow and entered the sculpture faculty of the Russian Academy of Arts in Leningrad. At the same time he began his work on the famous Lomonosov porcelain factory (LFZ), with whom he was associated for many years. Finishing the Academy, sparrows the first time in its long history has dared to violate the immutable tradition, in 1946, and presented and defended as a thesis is not the image of a man, and carved wooden sculpture of a wolf. He not only survived the struggle with the numerous apologists of socialist realism - the opponents of animalism, but also gained worthy supporters. This event became a landmark in the history of Soviet art: since access the "beast" on the official, and in those years only possible for the artist's exhibition was opened.

While studying at the Academy, V. Bogatyreva, and A. Matveev, sparrows at the same time always enjoyed the advice and help of the founders of the Soviet animalistic sculpture school I. S. Efimov and V. A. Vatagin. Influence Vatagin creativity Vorobyov was particularly strong. Since then, the sparrows life is calling gently and respectfully, V. A. Vatagin - "Batey". The oldest Russian animal painter was his true spiritual father. It was he who helped him to find his true place in life.

Significant was the influence of another great artist - Ivan Semenovich Efimov. It is evident in the large sculptures Vorobyov, a bright example of which is the monument "Moose" is set in Monchegorsk. It is made in the best traditions of the Efimov direction of the animalistic art. But sparrows not only should the lessons of their teachers, but also produces their own style of interpretation of the animal.

Sparrows are always specific. His animals are individual and so, too, is characteristic. But, first, it is not human nature that is the character of the animal, which manifests itself in habits and appearance, and secondly, it has features like unique to this species. Always get the impression that Vorobyov sculpted not a badger or a bear in General, but this particular good friend, who lives immediately next, and probably easily came to him for sessions. Many of his works seem to be portraits, although we know that he sculpted from life not worried the tiger or the hissing Panther. But having them as individualized, as if the author familiar images, he thus viewers closer to these beasts, making them and our friends, forcing him to accept and love them. This is the feature manners Vorobyov, shaped the basis of his work.

From 1936, he worked in the state Lomonosov porcelain factory, gradually mastering porcelain-like material. Sculpture of Boris Yakovlevich distracting from the overall grandiose of a number of "highly decorated bronze". Portraying the proud and freedom-loving animals: dignified tigers and bears, eagles and leopards, Panthers and wise orangutans, he deliberately refused chanting "the image of Soviet man" and "the mustachioed and bearded" leaders. In 50 years the number of sparrows became a recognized artist, participant of many Russian and foreign exhibitions (silver medal at the world exhibition in Brussels in 1958, in 1959 in Oostende, Belgium, and others), and his work began to acquire the largest museums. However, throughout his life he was a freethinker, who defended their independence and despise conformism in art. The name Vorobyova for any collector and researcher of art, associated with the authorship of the excellent in their plasticity and expressiveness of the animalistic porcelain. Sculpture, replicated at the factory, is still produced at the plant. They become the trademark of the plant and differ not only in Russia but also worldwide. There is hardly a porcelain collection which has never been presented to plastic Vorobyov.

Apart from animals, has become widely popular porcelain figurines Vorobyov, illustrating Russian folk tales and works by Gogol, Chekhov, Mikhalkov. Vorobyov relationship with the administration of the factory was quite complicated. His drama - drama artist working on Soviet porcelain factory, was that a planned industrial production was not needed slowly created works of high artistic level, and required, perhaps, a wider range of porcelain stamps that meet the mass tastes of the inhabitant. The artist, turned into a serf, tried to save the honor of the genuine "porcelain sculptures" before draw "product of China", and its author's name was substituted for depersonalizing the stigma of the plant. In 1972, B. Vorobiev, left the factory, hoping to realize a long-planned composition other materials, especially in favourite tree. For several years he made a number of important easel works, most of which now adorns the collection of the state Darwin Museum in Moscow.

But the main work that defines a creative person artist Boris Yakovlevich Vorobyov - this animal sculpture. In this area he created his most successful and significant things. With his work he reveals to us the beauty of wildlife, nature, animal in the wild, i.e. what we almost never see. Thus, he argues the importance of nature, awakens the desire to feel her, to hear her voice. Porcelain "Hippos", "Cubs" Vorobyov has penetrated into thousands of apartments, decorating our home, bringing joy to people and reminding them that there is a huge, beautiful and so often forget our natural world — a world of great beauty and simple sense, the world from which man himself had once come and to which he must learn again and again.

Unfortunately, many of the plans Vorobyov went awry. His indomitable and rebellious nature, similar in many ways with the features of his great and formidable models, could not protect him from severe conflicts and anxieties, he was very vulnerable and sensitive person. In 1980, Vorobyov was overtaken by a severe illness that robbed him of the ability to move independently, speak and write. During the long and painful last 10 years of his life he bravely fought the disease, trying to draw and carve wood with his left hand. These last works held by his relatives, constitute a kind of monument to his courage, summarizing the life of this amazing, talented, bright and strong person