ARTinvestment.RU tells about the famous Russian painter, who was part of a group of "Art or Death"

From September 25 to October 25, 2009 in Moscow will host The Third International Biennale of Contemporary Art. Among its members - the famous Russian artist Valeriy Valery Koshlyakov . His works will be shown in the retrospective exhibition "Company" Art or Death ", which opens Sept. 26 at the State Museum of Contemporary Art Russia Academy of Arts.

Koshlyakov was born in 1962 in Salsk (Rostov region). Since 1981, the second to 1985 he studied at the Rostov Art College named MBGrekov. During the studies involved realistic painting. After graduating from college Koshlyakov settled decorator in the local theater of musical comedy. This period is the beginning of his friendship with Avdeev Ter-Oganyanom , which, recollections of the poet Miroslav Nemirova, introduced him to the works of the Western avant-garde. In 1988, Koshlyakov became a member of the artistic association "Art or Death", whose leader was Ter-Oganyan. It also includes artists Alexander Sigutin , Yuri Shabelnikov , Nikolai Konstantinov, Basil Slepchenko, poet Miroslav Nemiroff, musician Sergei Timofeyev, etc.

first group exhibition was held March 19, 1988 in Taganrog, in the Palace of Culture defense plant "Surf". She exhibited avant-garde painting. According to eyewitnesses, the event nearly ended the scandal: the audience members accused him of incompetence. Artists helped the well-known art historian and collector of Rostov Alexander Tokarev, who managed to explain than interested in their strange pictures. The second exhibition of the Association, entitled "Bugbear", was held a few months. In autumn 1988 the first members of the group staged a display in the toilet ... cooperative. According to the story Ter-Oganyan, published in the journal "ArtChronika", the artists decorated the walls of institutions Nemirova paintings and poems, and cabins - poems by Osip Mandelstam. Unusual exhibition lasted only one day - it closed at the request of the district Komsomol committee.

Some time after "sortirnoy exhibition" Artists moved to Moscow. With "Art or Death" lasted until 1991. Exhibitions association held in the gallery, which Avdey Ter-Oganyan started in squat artists in Trekhprudny Lane. Their actions and performances became increasingly radicalized. In the 90 Ter-Oganyan announced himself as one of the most extravagant characters metropolitan art scene. The apotheosis of his career was a performance in Moscow "Young atheist", arranged in 1998 during the Art Fair "Art Manege". At the artist chopped with an ax several cheap reproductions of icons. According to him, the theme of the performance was "Desacralisation art. The result was a sad speech: as is well known to anyone who is even slightly interested in Russia's contemporary art, Ter-Oganyan was charged with inciting religious hatred, and without waiting for the court, left Russia.

Valery Koshlyakov, by contrast, is one of the most "quiet", so to speak, members of the group "Art or Death". Before moving to Moscow, he painted on canvas, but in the early 90's found the perfect material for his work - packaging carton. Proprietary technique of the artist is a combination of brittle, "poor" materials with an exalted theme: Koshlyakov became famous due to the majestic "canvases" with the image of architectural and sculptural monuments of various empires. He wrote the Roman buildings, Greek statues, Gothic cathedrals, government buildings of the Stalin era ... But the pictures Koshlyakov all these monuments seem not so smart, as the photographs in guidebooks. Torn cardboard and paint potekshaya give the effect of unreality, and famous buildings in Koshlyakov similar to the long-abandoned ruins. But even in this state, they are mythical creatures, whose scale can not compare with the human. It also stresses the grandiose dimensions and paintings - Koshlyakov wrote their monuments almost life-size. In 2003, one of these projects was submitted to Russia's pavilion at the 50 th Venice Biennale.

Portfolio Koshlyakov - defiantly noncommercial, many of its projects are site-specific, that is designed exclusively for some specific area (eg, wall "murals" with the ruins of the pavilion for Biennale). Materials from the artist, too short-lived: in his own words, many works after exhibitions discarded. To create his paintings, he often uses the cardboard boxes, found in a garbage can. Another favorite artist material - sticky tape. In 2000 Koshlyakov presented in Marat Gelman's gallery installation "hut", where all the interior details have been "painted" colored tape on the wall. And in 2003 there was an exhibition in the gallery "Regina", for which the artist made of sticky tape reproductions of famous paintings.

In 2001, the Museum of Architecture named Schuseva exhibited three-dimensional objects authorship Koshlyakov. This is a "booth" of painted cardboard, in mysterious ways which they see as elements of ancient architecture, classical, baroque, avant-garde ... In 2005, the State Russian Museum was another exhibition of objects by the artist, titled "Clothes space. Ikonusy. According Koshlyakov in ikonusah embodies the idea of searching for "personal church", that is the place for one person. Ikonus "is not functional and in their language resembles the popular products, handicrafts father in the household, such as toilet, shower, dog house". Its form is inspired by objects "from the environment" - stalls, outhouses, all sorts of booths. At the same time emphasizes the connection ikonusov with "curves" images of buildings in Russian icons.

In recent years, without works Koshlyakov not do virtually no auction of contemporary Russian art. The most expensive work of the artist ever sold at public auction, is the oil painting titled "Versailles", pushed for Sotheby's March 12, 2008 for 60 thousand pounds (estimate 40-50 thousand). But this result is, unfortunately, is not telling - such a milestone since then has failed to take any of his creation, and pictures with estimate: a few tens of thousands of pounds often remain unsold. Much more realistic to price in the range of 10-20 thousand

Moscow Retrospective Association "Art or Death" - the largest exhibition group. It will be shown more than 200 previously exhibited paintings, installations, objects, graphic works. In addition, visitors can see various photos and videos.

Material prepared Yulia Maximova

Source: wikipedia.ru , gif.ru , 3rd.moscowbiennale.ru , artchronika.ru , community.livejournal.com/rostov_80_90 , museum.ru , itogi.ru , artinvestment.ru

PS On the participants in the third Moscow Biennale of contemporary art can be read:

third Moscow Biennale of Contemporary art. AEC F

third Moscow Biennale of Contemporary art. Christian Markle

third Moscow Biennale of Contemporary art. Yuri Albert

third Moscow Biennale of Contemporary art. El Anatsui

third Moscow Biennale of Contemporary art. Mikhail Grobman

third Moscow Biennale of Contemporary art. Tony Cragg

third Moscow Biennale of Contemporary art. Paul Pepperstein

third Moscow Biennale of contemporary art. Workshop Wang Lishaut

third Moscow Biennale of Contemporary art. Vladimir Sychev

third Moscow Biennale of Contemporary art. Luc Tyuymans

third Moscow Biennale of Contemporary art. Chiharu Shiota