Alexander
Iulianovich Rukavishnikov

Member of the Union of Artists of the USSR. Born in 1950 in Moscow.

In 1974 he graduated from Moscow State Art Institute. IN AND. Surikov.

People's Artist of Russia (1995), Honored Artist of the RSFSR (1984) and the Kyrgyz SSR (1984), since 1988 - corresponding member, since 1997 - full member of the Russian Academy of Arts. Member of the Union of Artists since 1974; in 1986-88 - Secretary of the Board of the Union of Artists of the USSR.

Born on October 2, 1950 in Moscow, in the family of sculptors I.M. Rukavishnikova (1922-2000) and A.N. Filippova (1923-1988). Wife - Olga Rukavishnikova (born in 1953). Son - Rukavishnikov Philip Alexandrovich (born in 1974). Daughter - Natalia Aleksandrovna Rukavishnikova (born in 1993).

In 1974, Alexander Rukavishnikov graduated with honors from the Moscow State Art Institute named after V.I. Surikov (workshop of L.E. Kerbel). In 1976, his works "Michelangelo" and "Brigade" were awarded the Lenin Komsomol Prize ...

Wide fame A.I. Rukavishnikov brought work on the monument to Vladimir Vysotsky, which was erected in 1984 at the poet’s grave at the Vagankovsky cemetery ...

Program work created by Alexander Rukavishnikov in collaboration with his father, sculptor I.M. Rukavishnikov, called "Drip Clock" (1988) ...

The artist was inspired by the personality of John Lennon, in the image of which the extravagance of the idol of pop culture and the greatness of talent were combined. In the portrait of Lennon (1982), Rukavishnikov combines psychologism with the photographic accuracy of the transfer of details and textures ... In 1984, at the Spring Salon exhibition in the Grand Palais (Paris), Alexander Rukavishnikov was awarded the silver medal of the French Academy of Arts for the sculpture "John Lennon" .

In the work of A.I. Rukavishnikov indirectly manifested his passion for sports, eastern philosophy and eastern martial arts. As a student, Rukavishnikov began work on a cycle dedicated to sports (the sculptural compositions Boxer, Wrestlers, etc.). In 1972-77, he studied at the Central School of Karate under the leadership of A. Sturmin, the founder of the Russian school of karate, became the owner of the "black belt" in the SENE school (mark of excellence). Since 1990 A.I. Rukavishnikov is the president of the Moscow Karate Federation.

In his compositions, athletes are given in characteristic combat poses, professional movements are sharply grasped (Take-won-do, 1976; Sumo, 1979, etc.). In all the splendor of a combat pose, a karate instructor Vitaliy Pak (1977) appears: with his bare feet spread wide, he balances on an unusual pedestal in the form of the ancient Chinese sign "yin-yang", symbolizing the unity of the opposite principles of Being. In 1977, the sculptural composition "Karate Instructor V. Pak" was acquired by the State Tretyakov Gallery.

... In the composition "Tamara Bykova - the ex-world champion in high jumps" (1983), he uses the technique of a large shot. It does not depict the whole figure, but only a person hovering above the bar - an instant of victory, highlighted in the stream of time.

The sculptural portrait occupies a special place in the work of A.I. Rukavishnikova. Creating portraits of figures of history, literature, art, sports, the sculptor comprehends the character of a particular person, penetrates the hidden world of her thoughts and intentions. The portraits of the sculptor combine vitality and psychological capacity. A striking example of this is the monument to V.N. Tatishchev, opened in 1998 in Tolyatti.

The historical character is a kind of conductor of the culture of another era in contemporary art practice. Working on a statue of F.M. Dostoevsky, Rukavishnikov could not pass by the Wanderers, whose art forms the backdrop of the era. Almost painful asceticism, inner insecurity, isolation and anxiety - these features were inherent in Dostoevsky, but Rukavishnikov in the statue he created managed to overcome the well-known aesthetic principles of critical realism, alien to him as an author. The monument was erected in 1997 in front of the Central State Library in Moscow.

As a man of broad interests, Alexander Rukavishnikov draws artistic ideas from various strata of world culture. In the series of portraits of the legendary heroes and prominent personalities of Russian history, “The Roots of Russia” (1981-84) - “Sergius of Radonezh”, “Dmitry Donskoy”, “Peresvet”, “Feofan Grek” - the artist refers to the tradition of ancient Russian wooden plastics and icon painting. Soft rounded silhouette of figures, ocher-greenish tinted tones, enlightened icon-painted faces. The gesture is almost of paramount importance: Feofan Grek's hands are folded reverently and prayerly, Sergius of Radonezh has a blessing gesture, and Dmitry Donskoy's hands are on his sword in an oath.

Since the late 1980s, Rukavishnikov has been captivated by the elements of pagan culture. He plunges into a wonderful, mysterious world, "recreates" Kostroma - a mythological character associated with the rites of "unlocking" spring, with the cult of fertility and awakening of the plant world. Kostroma is presented as a wooden pagan idol, coming to life, like Osiris, and sprouting with wonderful flowers.

In the series "Pagan Goddesses" (1990s), the artist creates his own mythological pantheon. In most pagan compositions, he uses the technique of contrasting alternation of different materials (white marble, dark bronze, aluminum), textures and three-dimensional forms, which are built on top of each other, like the tiers of the Tower of Babel.

The dynasty of sculptors Rukavishnikovs continues the son of Alexander Iulianovich - Philip Alexandrovich. In 1999, Alexander and Philip Rukavishnikovs completed work on a portrait monument to Vladimir Nabokov, which was installed in the city of Montreux (Switzerland). The statue was created by the sculptors at their own expense and, in fact, is a gift to the city in which Nabokov lived.

Among the main works of A.I. Rukavishnikova also: monumental and decorative composition "Fountain" for the hotel "Eaglet" in Moscow (1978); monumental composition "Shaman" in Danilov grad, Montenegro (1983); Monuments P.N. Nesterov in Nizhny Novgorod (1983-1985, together with I.M. Rukavishnikov), V.I. Lenin on the outskirts of Copenhagen (1984), M.O. Mikeshin in Smolensk (1985); monumental composition dedicated to the XII World Festival of Youth and Students in Moscow (1985); composition "Star Wars Winner" in the John Wilson Sculpture Park in Lake Side (1986); Monument to the Fallen Internationalists in Madrid (1988); series of paintings by the Goddess, Warriors, Pagan Universe (1989); sculptural composition "N.V. Gogol" (1989); a series of drawings "Birds", "Love" (1990-91); series of graphic sheets "The Pagan Universe", sculptural compositions "Goddess (I)", "Goddess (II)", "Spine" (1992); "Above the ashes of the fallen - a living world" - a symbolic cross on the 72nd kilometer of the Minsk highway near Moscow (1995); "Zero kilometer" - a memorial sign of the beginning of Russian roads on Red Square in Moscow (1996); Monuments to Nikolai Starostin (1996), Lev Yashin (1996-97) and Eduard Streltsov (1998) in Luzhniki in Moscow, two-time Olympic wrestling champion I. Yarygin (1998), a monument to Lev Yashin at Dynamo Stadium (1999), a monument Yuri Nikulin on Tsvetnoy Boulevard (2000); a memorial sign dedicated to Artyom Borovik at the building of the Top Secret holding (2000); memorial sign in Luzhniki dedicated to the winners of the Olympics-80 and H.A. Samaranchu (2001).

In 1996-97, A.I. Rukavishnikov together with I.M. Rukavishnikov took part in the restoration of high reliefs of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.

The works of A.I. Rukavishnikov’s “Brigade” (1976), “Portrait of V. Vysotsky” (1982), compositions on the theme of sports “Karate” (1981) and “Kew-do” (1982) were awarded in 1982 with a silver medal of the USSR Academy of Arts (now - Russian Academy of Arts).

In 1996, Alexander Iulianovich and Iulian Mitrofanovich Rukavishnikovs were awarded gold medals of the Russian Academy of Arts for the exhibition of works by three generations of sculptors of the Rukavishnikovs, held in May-June 1993 in the halls of the Russian Academy of Arts.

A.I. Rukavishnikov is a regular participant in national and international art exhibitions. In 1988, he represented the USSR at the World Art Symposium in Seoul (South Korea). In the Seoul National Park, his monumental composition "Mom" was installed. Solo exhibitions of Rukavishnikov were held at the Central House of Artists and in the halls of the Russian Academy of Arts in Moscow, at the Nassau Museum of Modern Art (USA), at the Dilemann Gallery (Belgium) and at other museums and exhibition halls in the world.

The works of A.I. Rukavishnikov’s are kept in the collections of the Tretyakov Gallery, the Russian Museum, the Ludwig Museum, Siemens, Hermes, John Wilson, and numerous private and corporate collections.

A.I. Rukavishnikov is an active teacher. Since 1994, he has been managing a personal sculpture workshop, and since 1999, he has been the head of the sculpture department at the V.I. Surikov Moscow State Academic Art Institute, professor.

A.I. Rukavishnikov - People's Artist of Russia (1995), Honored Artist of the RSFSR (1984) and the Kyrgyz SSR (1984), since 1988 - corresponding member, since 1997 - full member of the Russian Academy of Arts. Member of the Union of Artists since 1974; in 1986-88 - Secretary of the Board of the Union of Artists of the USSR.

Since 1997, Alexander Iulianovich has been a member of the Presidential Commission on Culture. He was awarded the orders of the Badge of Honor (1986), Friendship (2000), and Honor.

Lives and works in Moscow.