Retrospective Arkady Petrov MMSI
 

MMSI together with a gallery of pop /off /art opens a retrospective of the famous artist Arkady Petrov, representing different stages of his work from the early 70's until the very last time .

Despite the popularity of the surgery, came to him on a wave of interest in Soviet unofficial art, Petrov, in general, has no direct relationship to the underground. After graduating in 1969 Surikov, he in 1971 became a member of the Artists' Union and over the next fifteen years old remains with the official authorities cool-friendly attitude, prepares to order some of the building, sometimes - with the least provocative works - even participates in exhibitions.

Actually, the earliest painting Petrova - consistent with the primitivism instantly recognized continuity with Niko Pirosmani, and Henri Rousseau and other classic lines. But Petrova, a native of the village Komsomolets somewhere in the depths of Donbass, a very different basis. This provincial ceremonial photograph and tasteless Marketplace postcard. From the beginning theme of almost all his paintings - a miserable dream, ugly, tacky "beauty" in some random parameters coinciding with the beauty of this. Gradually to the postcard and holiday photos attached advertising and the emerging Soviet pop culture. Since the early 80's almost a fetish, an embodiment of the unreachable becomes questionable for Petrov, singer Alla Pugacheva. It is mentioned in the text on the pictures (acacia blossoms. The park is mine 19-20 plays a brass band. Grandma sells sirenku. Live in Moscow Alla Pugacheva "), you have your own persona: one of the most famous tuning works Petrova was a large portrait of a semi-nude Pugacheva, though offering services intimate properties ascribed to him with a phone number the stars.

To some extent we can say that Petrov came up with an alternative has not yet appeared Sots-Art - Soviet pop-art based on the desire to "beauty" and not power. Some social-actors (eg, Grisha Bruskin) recognize a direct impact on them Petrova. However, fame came to the older artist, even as social art came into vogue. In the late 80's Petrov tried to meet, included in his paintings slogans, red stars and military aircraft, but it turned out he did not so convincing as the younger colleagues, and far more boring. The fact that Petrov is distinguished from Sots artists is another fundamental thing: no installation on the criticism. It seems the artist really liked all that hopeless kitsch, from which his paintings were born 70-80.

The writer Konstantin Vaginov the novel "The Goat Song" is a character Kostya mouth, maniacally passionate collecting of all sorts of "bad taste". Occupation is so exciting it that the hero is gradually ceases to notice any other manifestations of art and life, the whole world turns into one exquisite tastelessness. Arkady Petrov in his best period, represents something very similar. He does not reject the kitsch, not trying to dissect the contrary - to join with him in a very gentle, almost romantic relationship, as in the picture, where the artist against the backdrop of the Garden of Eden holds the handle all the same Pugachev.

Then in the 90's, this fascination is lost (maybe it's just a consequence of social-artistskogo temptation). Instead of ugly beauty Petrov begins to see ordinary ugliness, and his works fill some unpleasant dwarfs, if mimicked early tumble-cute characters of the artist. This anger is suddenly in the mid-2000. In the pictures Petrova reappear "beauty" (as the artist called almost all of his early characters) - now it's even more primitivist, almost neolithic Donbass ladies. However, that touching, that was at Petrova in the 70's and 80's, not here. Perhaps because virtually disappeared nourished his Soviet kitsch culture. Now painting Petrova - one of the few things that keeps her spirit, without pointing a nostalgic gloss, but without, say, balabanovskogo horror.
MMSI (Petrovka), from March 10 to April 10
Igor Gulin
Magazine «Weekend» № 7 (3603) on 04.03.2011

Largely thanks to Arkady Petrov, we have preserved many works Malinowski A. The father wrote a lot, but work. Pravilo.ne as preserved, toli he does not like it, Tolley has had some reason do not know. But the words of his father, was Arkady Petrov saw his picture he said, "Toll, what are you doing?" Do not you dare throw the picture. Geniy.i You must write a good canvas. " and his father poslushalsya.i become more careful with their paintings.
 And here are some raboty.mne think it's Arkady Petrov or gave to his father or simply left at home, not znayu.Podpisey no.