Exhibition project "Created by Inspiration" by Sergey Gavin, Evgeny Matko and Anastasia Agafonova

The exhibition project "Created by Inspiration" will demonstrate about 60 works by three Moscow artists, academicians of the Russian Academy of Arts Sergei Vladimirovich Gavin and Evgeny Evgenievich Matko, and corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Arts Anastasia Yuryevna Agafonova. The masters work in various types of monumental and decorative art - in rare tapestry and artistic enamel techniques. It is significant that on the eve of the 200th anniversary of the Stroganov Russian State Pedagogical University of Arts and Industry, representatives of the famous school have united in an effort to show selected original works that form the basis of a unique creative project united by a common theme - "inspiration". In it, it is considered as a process of interaction between form, matter and creative thought.

"Why wait so long for inspiration? The poet is the master of inspiration. He must command it."
J. W. Goethe "Faust"

"Lyrical excitement", philosophical understanding of nature is characteristic of the expressive style of S. V. Gavin. Reflections on the complexity of the surrounding world are embodied in amazingly poetic works - tapestries "Flight" (1991), "Music" (2020), "Ghosts of the Grand Palace" (2021), "Window into the Sleeping Garden" (2022). "The artistic language of the author’s work is lofty, metaphorical, clear and open to perception. High - in a conscious understanding of the aesthetic purpose of the tapestry, its significant role in the history of world art. Metaphorical in the author’s experiment, innovations in artistic plastic images. Clear and open to the viewer thanks to the true professionalism of the statement, the precise selection of expressive means, thanks to devotion to the tradition of high performance skills of classical weaving," notes Academician of the Russian Academy of Arts, Doctor of Art History L. V. Kazakova. At the junction of this trinity, creative insights of the master occur, always striving for discovery, for knowledge of the unknown.

"Heavenly fire", metaphysics, reflection of the creative power of inspiration, a living fusion of virtuoso performance, craftsmanship and a bright, deep concept are characteristic of the recognizable works of Evgeny Matko. His enamels are intended to surprise not only with technological perfection, a large format of decorative panels, but also with a deep philosophical rethinking of history, biblical stories and modern life, which is emphasized in the titles of the artist’s works - "Antique Hero" (2008), "Return of the Prodigal Son" (2016), "Impossible Pergamum" (2016), "Zeus" (2019). Other facets of the artist’s creativity are revealed by new works "Archangel Michael" (2022), "Mother of God" (2022), "St. George the Victorious on a Black Horse" (2022).

The works of Anastasia Agafonova have a completely different character. "Poetic power", energetic contrasting combinations of colors, textures and transporating shine, the transfer of the preciousness of the material are characteristic of her author’s enamel compositions. In the diptychs "Night of Ivan Kupala" (2015), "Mythological plot" (2016), "On the wings of the night" (2018) she reasons, inspired by mythological plots and folklore motifs, appealing to the ancient layer of cultural meanings and images. Expressive are the dishes "Winter Light" (2017), "Bowl" (2018) and "Fighting the Serpent" (2018), created by her.

The elegance and grace of hand weaving, the roughness, density and openwork of the surface, the softness of the muted pastel colours of the tapestries create a play of contrasts with the brightness and precious shine of the enamel compositions. The artists’ appeal to eternal themes - inspiration and creation, allow us to lift the curtain on the philosophy of creativity in the context of the development of the traditions of the national school of monumental, decorative and applied art.

S. V. Gavin is a master of decorative arts and an Honored Artist of the Russian Federation (2008). In 1972 he graduated from the Moscow School of Industrial Art named after M. I. Kalinin, in 1977 he graduated from the art and graphics department of the Moscow State Pedagogical Institute. After graduation he worked at the Applied Arts Combine of the Moscow State United Art Fund of the RSFSR. Professor (2009) of the Design-Textiles Department of the Russian State Stroganov University of Art and Industry. He has created tapestries and stage curtains for theaters, concert halls, conference halls, and cultural centers, including the Rossiya Cinema and Concert Hall, the Dzerzhinsk Theater, and the Nizhny Novgorod Musical Comedy Theater. The works are in the collections of the State Museum-Reserve "Tsaritsyno" (Moscow), the All-Russian Museum of Decorative Arts (Moscow), the Penza Art Gallery. Since 2019, he has been a member of the expert commission of the Moscow City Department of Culture project for awarding titles to amateur creative groups.

E. E. Matko is a painter and master of artistic enamel. In 1987 he graduated from the Moscow Higher Art and Industrial School (former Stroganov School), where he studied under Professor A. L. Orlovsky. Associate Professor (2017) of the Department of Monumental and Decorative Painting at the Russian State Stroganov University of Art and Industry. He creates compositions using artistic enamel technique and has completed a number of works in the field of monumental art, including painting and enamels on the facade of the Chapel of the Nativity of the Virgin in the village of Izhevtsy, Chernivtsi Region (2013). His works are in the collections of the Moscow Museum of Modern Art, the State Historical Museum (Moscow), the Obninsk History Museum, the Pskov Museum-Reserve, and the Kaluga Museum of Fine Arts. Since 2012, he has been the chairman of the Decorative Arts section of the Creative Union of Artists of Russia.

A. Yu. Agafonova is a master of artistic enamel. In 1996 she graduated from the Moscow Higher Art and Industrial University named after S. G. Stroganov, in 2012 she defended her dissertation for the academic degree of candidate of art history. Head, professor of the Department of Monumental and Decorative Painting of the Russian State Art and Industrial University named after S. G. Stroganov. She is the secretary of the Decorative Art section of the Creative Union of Artists of Russia. Her works are in the collections of the Kaluga Museum of Fine Arts, the Tula Museum of Fine Arts, the North Caucasian branch of the State Museum of Oriental Art (Maikop), and the All-Russian Museum of Decorative Arts (Moscow).