Exhibition of works by Mikhail Kudrevaty "Space of Memory" in the Russian Academy of Arts

The Russian Academy of Arts presents an exhibition of works by Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Arts Mikhail Georgievich Kudrevaty "Space of Memory". The exposition will consist of about 30 paintings of different years, including recently created works that the audience will see for the first time.

Mikhail Kudrevaty is a well-known Petersburg painter, muralist, art researcher. In his work, he uses both the experience of the old masters, proven over the centuries, and the formal finds of the innovative art of the 20th century.

Distinctive features of his author’s style are unusual sharp angles, a combination of different types of rhythm, expressiveness of the silhouette and color spot.

The artist’s worldview and the choice of topics in his work, of course, were influenced by the difficult fate of his family, in particular, the fate of his grandfather, captain of the first rank, participant in the Russo-Japanese War, shipbuilder Mikhail Matveyevich Kudrevaty, who developed advanced technologies for using the Nobel engine at that time for the first Russian submarines. The revolution interrupted the work and life of Mikhail Matveyevich, but his grandson became his spiritual successor. Perhaps that is why in his urban landscapes the timeless beauty of St. Petersburg, which still retains its imperial grandeur, is emphasized. The statues of ancient heroes and Orthodox saints, which are an integral part of the city, are perceived by the painter as the immortal Guardians and Patrons of the former capital, blessing it from the height of the roofs of palaces and temples (“Keeper of the City”, “St. Isaac’s Square”, 2002).

Comprehension of the character of St. Petersburg is one of the constant creative tasks of the painter. The most important place in his art is occupied by the historical picture in the widest thematic range - from ancient times to the present. Historical conflicts, the fate of people involved in their circulation - topics that pose eternal questions of being to the audience, have been worrying the author since his studies at the institute. A vivid example is his diploma work - the mosaic panel "People’s Volunteers" (1981), as well as the dramatic-sounding canvas "Razin and Princess" (1989). The events of a turning point in the revolutionary time, often tearing family ties, separating native people, are reflected in the paintings "Sisters" and "Brothers" (2006).

The sharpness of the conflict, which is often emphasized by the decorative structure of the composition, contrasts and sonority of colors, has become one of the main expressive means of the artist. Other lyrical intonations are contained in the painting "Bird Cherry" (1994), where a fragile girl, who will soon have to go into battle, rejoices in the freshness and aroma of flowers. One of the most tragic pages in history, the Siege of Leningrad has become the subject of many of the author’s paintings, including the work “Leningradka” (2019), presented at the exhibition.

The portrait in the artist’s work is often synthetic, we include it in other genres, but it plays an important role. Of course, the artist is attracted to models who are close in spirit, in aspirations, professionally. The images of the singer Viktor Khara (“Singer of Freedom”, 1984), the art historian V.A. Lenyashina (2020) and others. The artist depicts the pensive faces of contemporaries in a crowded trolleybus at rush hour (“Autumn Motif”, 1986), or transfers to the modern world the heroes of a cult Soviet film who go unnoticed in the bustle of the city (“Vladimir Vysotsky”, 2022).

The paintings of Mikhail Kudrevaty are saturated with a wide variety of metaphors, giving the thoughtful viewer the opportunity to enjoy the fullness and variety of meanings contained in them. Today, the author continues to work from nature, freshly and directly conveying the beauty of the visible world, realizing new, complex compositional ideas, which requires the synthesis of all skills, the concentration of all the spiritual and creative forces of the artist.

Mikhail Georgievich Kudrevaty was born in 1957 in Leningrad. In 1981 he graduated from the monumental workshop of the Institute of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture. I.E. Repin under the guidance of People’s Artist of the USSR, Academician of the Russian Academy of Arts A.A. Mylnikov. In 1982-1986 he did an internship at the Creative Workshops of the Russian Academy of Arts.

Since 1988 he has been teaching at his native institute, educating new generations of artists. He is the author of the murals of the Pokrovsky Cathedral in Veliky Novgorod, the Church of the Nativity of Christ and the chapel in the name of the Holy Royal Martyrs on the Middle Rogatka in St. Petersburg, as well as the picturesque triptychs "Leningrad Tram", "Count’s Quay", "Renaissance", "Michelangelo", etc..

For several years, he participated in the Journey for Peace project, held by the Organizing Committee of China in the framework of the Summits of the Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. For his active work, he was awarded the title "Artist of Peace in the World" (2013) and the "Golden Brush" award (2015) at the international exhibition in Brussels dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the victory in World War II.

The text is based on articles by Alexei Mudrov and Tatyana Kudrevata.