Alexey Vladimirovich Gurov (1969-2008) – St. Petersburg artist, member of Leningrad branch of the Union of Artists of Russia since 1999, participant of many art exhibitions, talented graphic artist, painter, designer, scenographist. Born in 1969 in Divnogorsk, lived and studied in Nurek (Tajikistan). Then his family moved to Ivanovo region where Alexey continued his studies at Ivanovo Art College. In 1997 graduated from St. Petersburg Theatrical Academy, department of scenography, the workshop of a prominent scenographist G.P. Sotnikov. As a scenographist he has decorated a number of performances in different Russian theatres. In recent years has successfully worked in design and photography.
At his exhibition in Borey Gallery we will see his works of the recent years from his photo cycle “Life of the things”, graphical series “Iron Age”, as well as sketches for theatre and cinema.
"Iron Age" is a series of several monochromic drawings and collages of different years. Helmets and armaments arranged in static tri-compositions resemble rusty ancient warriors, which have risen in battle array from the depths of the subconscious of a European of the post-industrial epoch. This severe masculine graphic art goes in parallel with tragic and tense compositions where snakes, disappointed angels and strange planets stare at the spectator and frighten him by their cold unreality. Drawing and collages of this part of the exhibition are embodied in graphic art speculations about nightmares and phobias of the newest time: man-caused catastrophes, spiritual disorder, social dissociation, global oriental expansion, etc.
“Life of the things " is photography in the genre of still-life. It is like a theatrical performance, where things are actors. On a small “stage” the artist develops a multi-series presentation, unhurriedly manipulating his “actors” – forms, silhouettes, lines, volumes. Trio, duet, quartet. A meeting is a dialogue. Minarets, temples, cities. Lovers, kings, saints, soldiers. Allusions, variations, associations… or just curiosity? Such a meditative constructing resembles the rehearsal process, in which experiment, perusal, admiration at the sight of something, the mere process of work is much more important than the premiere. A quiet conversation, reflection, repetition with variations and playing the scenes over. It is a an artistic-and-laboratory labour, which refuses hurriedness and fuss. It is very far from the nowadays obligatory “action” – it is a meditative study for an attentive and unhurried spectator.
Anton Schablykin |
