The Palette of Life

Exhibition February 26 − April 26, 2019
Alexander Karavaev's exhibition "The Palette of Life" (0+)

on February 26, in the foyer of the Central City Library. Gogol department opened the personal exhibition "The Palette of Life" by Alexander Vasilievich Karavaev (1951-2018). The exhibition includes forty-eight paintings and drawings. The works have illusionistic effects, admiration of the objective world, fantasy and even mystification.
Behind the sketchbook in short moments the artist lives a life more vivid and rich than in decades of everyday life. Each painting is a declaration of love and a tribute to the world around him. These are, for example, such his works as "Dandelions in the Summer Night", "Gifts of Summer", "Peaches on Olive", "Autumn Composition" and many others. Alexander has been drawing since childhood. At school, drawing lessons were his favorite. And all the way through life, no matter how the circumstances, painting, drawing were his deep and strong hobbies, maybe even the meaning of life. Books, sports, and music were also his great affection and passionate love. Later, Sasha's now grown-up friends joked: "We came with beer, and Sasha came and left with books. It is no coincidence that his work "Open Book" depicts a folio in the center of the composition. Alexander was an introvert. The turbulent world of art circled him. He thought, worked and read so well in solitude and silence. He exhibited his paintings only once, at an art museum almost forty years ago. He did not sell his own works, but gave them as gifts to his friends. Of all genres he preferred still life. The dialogue of objects fascinated him. There are more than thirty still lifes in the exposition. The subjects are flowers, fruits, the subject world of the familiar home interior. These seemingly simple works reflect his special look, revealing the human fragility and human vulnerability. Alexander had a special affection for the artist Salvador Dali and the direction of surrealism. At the age of twenty-two, he made a copy of Salvador Dali's painting "Christ of St. John..." (130х65). This copy was given to one of his friends. It is still in his collection. And it was shown only one day, at the vernissage in the library on February 26 this year. This love of surrealism can also be felt in his later period in a number of paintings, especially in the composition Dedication to Dali 2004 (51x36). It also includes mysterious landscapes, keeping the silence: "Full Moon", "Leaffall", and works of reflection on faith: "Prayer", "Spheres". Creativity unites thinking people with sensitive souls. Alexander was exactly like that, and painting, to which he was drawn since childhood, "always held him tightly.
The peculiarity of this exhibition is the size of the works. They gravitate to the miniature, and are executed in a multi-layered glaze style. The largest of them is "Composition. Illusion" (40x60), and the smallest is "Young Tree" (20.6x12).
Alexander Vasilievich's family, and they lived with his wife Lyubov Leonidovna Karavaeva for thirty-eight years, always supported, admired, created conditions for creativity. And this is a great help for a person immersed in art. Until his last days, overcoming his illness, he created paintings. Undoubtedly, Alexander saw his surroundings with special eyes - the eyes of an artist. He was given this great happiness.
The vernissage brought many people together. It was noisy and filled with love and interest to the personality of "Novokuznetsky recluse" Alexander Karavaev.
Elena Basharina, a member of the Union of Artists, spoke. Her impressions were expressed in the following observations: "The compositions are not overloaded. A lot of free space, the works breathe and give the viewer an opportunity to speculate on the images on the plane. She also stressed the complexity and subtlety of the author's work with black. Anatoly Dumler, a member of the Union of Artists, a board member and organizer of "Kuznetskaya Sloboda", emphasized his surprise that the author was so successful to develop his talent independently, outside the artistic environment and mentorship. This certainly proves the uncommonness of his abilities... Vladimir Evstropov, a guest of the vernissage, said that he met the young Alexander Karavaev back in his student days. And already at that time he noticed that this young artist was courteous, thoughtful and observant. Arguments were not in his arsenal of communication and it was very surprising and attractive. Lyubov Karavaeva entered the conversation, overcoming her excitement. She thanked everyone for their help and support. By the beginning of the vernissage, she published a wonderful catalog of Alexander Karavaev's work, "The Palette of Life". The guests of the opening received it as a present and took it home with them as a reminder of the artist's work. It should be noted that this exhibition was held thanks to the efforts of Lyubov Leonidovna Karavaeva.
The whole evening, from the first minutes, with us were masters of author's song Valery Kulichenko and Evgeny Artful. Sounds of favorite bards Alexander Karavaev Bulat Okudzhava "Painters", "Grape seed", Vladimir Vysotsky "Two ships", Ada Yakusheva "My friend draws mountains"... Alexander Karavaev is native Novokuznetskiy. Valery Kulichenko remembered it and sang his song "Morning City" about Novokuznetsk. For the literature lovers the subscription department organized a wonderful exhibition of books. The atmosphere of the vernissage was amazingly heartfelt.
Alexander Karavaev's "Palette of Life" exhibition allows you to get acquainted with this unique collection of works presented for the first time.
Galina Ivanova, exhibition curator.
Information phone: (3843) 74-73-87

Lyubov Karavaeva :+ 7 951 571 80 08

Galleries at the exhibition