He was born in Leningrad in 1958.
A photographer by profession, member of the Artists’ Union of Russia.
Since 1982 participated in folklore and ethnographical expeditions in the north-west of Russia and the borderline regions of Belorussia.
From 1984 till 1987 took trips to the provinces of Lithuania, Estonia, and Karelia, and also joined several expeditions to the high mountain areas of the North Caucasus.
Since 1985 photographed St Petersburg. Created a series of photo portraits of St Petersburg traditional art representatives: Georgy Tots, Kirill Ivanov-Bunin and some younger men of letters, artists, and musicians: Oleg Grigoriev, Valery Gergiev, Oleg Karavaychuk.
At that very time created photo series: The City of God’s Fools, Demiurge, A Strange Game Without Rules or a Lovely Dude, Hierophant’s Excursions, Ozerki.
In 1989 travelled to Kazakhstan in the name of UNESCO to make pictures of traditional musicians.
Since 1992 picked up the thread of folklore expeditions. The sphere of interest is village singers and musicians, wise women and travelling pilgrims, fools in Christ, village priests, former prisoners of Kolyma camps…
Besides shooting, he also took audio recordings of folk myth-making samples: archaic magical texts, stories about various fairy-tale evil spirits coming to our world, etc.; he recorded as well stories and recollections of historic value (private, non-official life of the country).
Since 1993 participated in the expedition within federal survey on north-west tradition in bells and toll.
In1997-1998 worked as a photo reporter for St Petersburg department of the International PAN-Club.
In1999 wrote and published a book basing on the materials which he had collected: “From Sepulchral Land To God’s Grace“, consisting of texts and photos.
Since 2000 practiced color landscape shooting: Master Bo’s Garden, Solitudo, Flowers Thrown Out.
In 2002-2006 worked on the “Bogeyman’s Blues”project.
In 2006 worked on the “Ethnography” project.
Solo exhibitions:
1994 – Nevel Museum (Pskovskaya region);
2000 – Exhibition and presentation of the “From Sepulchral Land To God’s Grace“ book (Kotchubey’s Palace, St Petersburg); "Solitudo" (landscapes in color; Tea house of Letny Garden, St Petersburg); "From Foolstown With Love..." (Museum of Saltykov-Schedrin, Tver).
2001 - “From Sepulchral Land To God’s Grace“ (“First Line” gallery, journalists’faculty of St Petersburg State University).
Collections:
Author’s collections (photos, audio recordings, authentic texts) in the Archive of American Folklife Center of the US Congress Library (Washington) and in the Museum of Nevel (S.Zhirkevich’s personal fund); photos in collections of Navigator Foundation (Boston), George Soros, Norton Dodge, in private collections (Germany, France, USA, Russia).
In the archive: slides (60 mm) – Petersburg, landscapes of Pskovskaya, Novgorodskaya, Vologodskaya regions. Churches and monasteries. Black-and-white photos from those regions and everything connected with folklore and ethnographical topics.
Authentic recordings of songs, music, spiritual verses, made using professional equipment (audio).
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