PHOTO ART
PHOTO ART, a form of visual art, created by photography. The earliest preserved photographs which captured Bashkir nomadic lifestyle and the views of Ufimsky Uyezd, date back to the late 1860s. In the late 19—20th century, the photographer S.M.ProkudinGorsky, who produced the first colour photographs, was sent to Bashkortostan by the order of Nikolay II, while A.A.Zirakh was already working there during the same period. Private photo salons operated in Belebey, Birsk, Sterlitamak, Ufa, and some other large villages before the Revolution 1917.
Between 50–60s, the Ufa Photo Works Factory (now OOO PhotoNUR), Ural Photo Club (1973), and Agidel Film and Photo Club were established. In 1986, the Bashkir Republican Federation of Film and Photo Enthusiasts (it functioned until 1991), which was engaged in organizing exhibitions of documentary and fine art photography, was established.
The creation of the Russian Union of Art Photographers contributed to the further development of Ph.a. in the RB.
In 2001, the first Regional Competition of Masters of Advertising, Book Graphics and Printing was held in Ufa within the framework of “The World of Advertising, Printing, and Book Salons”, specialized photo exhibition. Photo artists from the Republic participate in various events held in Russia and abroad. Photo exhibitions such as “Bashkortostan Today” (Lyon, Paris, 2005), “My Land – Bashkortostan” exhibition of documentary and fine art photography (St. Petersburg, 2006; Istanbul, 2008), “Bashkortostan” (Ankara, Cairo, Hurghada; all – 2010), etc were organized. Photo albums “Bashkortostan – My Heart”, “Bashkortostan – My Ancestral Home” (both – R.I.Kilmamatov), and others were published in 2007. Within the framework of the International Campaign of photo artists “Bashkortostan. Nature. Man. Culture” event (held since 1990), the Republic was visited by more than 100 photographers from 13 countries and regions of Russia. In 2014, the campaign was awarded with the National Award “Silver Archer” (Moscow) for development of public relations.
