Artist of the week: Leonid Sokov
ARTinvestment.RU   09 июня 2012

On the bright representative of the Sots-арт Leonid Sokov, whose retrospective is now in the Museum

In the Moscow Museum of Modern Art from May 24 to July 1, is Russia's first full-scale retrospective of works by the artist, Leonid Sokov unofficial art . The exhibition features over 120 works spanning all periods of his work from the 1970s to the present time.

Name Leonid Sokov habitually associated primarily with the direction of postmodern art as a social art (he uses the larger Juice formula" folk pop art "). Recall that in the social-art images and symbols of official Soviet art is used in isolation from their usual propaganda purpose, turning them into a parody of themselves. In the works of the representatives of social art hackneyed ideological cliches, whether the hammer and sickle, Lenin or Stalin, turned into fetishes of mass culture - such as they were for the Americans praised the representatives of pop-art soup cans, "Campbell", Marilyn Monroe and Mickey Mouse. In one of the most famous series of works by Leonid Sokov the two worlds of characters engage in dialogue. In the resulting "Sokovsky" sign-world of Mickey Mouse holding in the paws of the hammer and sickle, Stalin and Marilyn Monroe's make a beautiful couple, and Lenin, goes to meet "walking man" Giacometti or holds in his pointing finger Alexander Calder mobile. These ridiculous and absurd combinations of opposing systems of symbols to help viewers get rid of their pattern, ideologically perception.

Sokova But creativity is not limited to the contemporary Soviet and capitalist symbols. Quickly he puts on the ground sotsartovskuyu heroes of Russian folklore, or the masterpieces of world art. The double-headed imperial eagle, the Russian bear, or Venus are the same characters Sokovsky artistic anecdotes, like Lenin, Monroe and others. In papers Sokova obvious parallels with the works of native Russian - traditional carved wooden toys and popular prints, with its rustic folk jokes in the margins.

Juice Leonid was born in 1941 in the village Mikhaleva Kalinin region. 1964-1969 Studied at the sculpture department of the Moscow Higher School of Industrial Art (former Stroganov). Officially, he worked as a sculptor, animal by MOSH and could achieve a lot in this field, if it had not chosen a path of non-conformist artists. From 1966 to 1970 he worked in a studio with and Boris Orlov . In 1976 began to exhibit their work at private exhibitions in his studio. Since 1977, participating in exhibitions abroad. In 1979, left the Soviet Union. Lives and works in New York.

Like most of the sixties, the most successful sales Sokova works date back to the art boom of 2007-2008. Formal record holders are two sculptures: "The Bear, beating hammer sickle» (Sotheby's, 12.03.2008, the result of 48.5 thousand pounds) and "The Castle» (Sotheby's, 15.04.2008, the result of 79 000 dollars), as well as a version of collage of the famous "Monroe and Stalin» (Sotheby's, 27.11.2007, the result of 20.9 thousand pounds).

LEONID JUICE Bear, beating hammer sickle. 1996 Bronze. 60 x 35 Sotheby's. 12.03.2008 Estimate: 12-18 thousand pounds Result: 48,5 thousand pounds

LEONID JUICE Monroe and Stalin. 1991 paper, mixed media and collage. 98,5 x 86 Sotheby's. 27.11.2007 Estimate: 5-7 thousand pounds Result: 20.9 thousand pounds

Maria Onuchina, AI

Source : artinvestment.ru

Comment Editor : In the second decade the auction assortment of juices was not very representative in . Received at the auction works a little bit and not those episodes that were waiting for collectors. In particular, collages and graphics in the lottery sets the range of 10-12 thousand dollars were often sold. But the real hits Sokov, the most recognizable items of class "Meetings of the two sculptures" (the common people, "Lenin - Giacometti") at auction last five years, simply does not appear. Just got to the collectors. And it was such a thing can take the bar in the 30-50 thousand dollars. And it is such a thing, even if limited edition, but which has already been included in all books can be recommended to collectors in terms of investment potential and liquidity. Juices, as well as many of the sixties, is underrated classic. Moreover, in general, paradoxically, creative Sokova today has just begun. Chic exhibition, the second opening to the public - it is certainly important. But the very moment for a second meeting with the public today was especially good: social art in the tenth was more alive than dead.

Vladimir Bogdanov, AI