FINE ARTS AND FOLKLORE

FINE ARTS AND FOLKLORE. Folklore is one of the sources of inspiration for artists. Based on folklore art, a master created an art image, reflecting his worldview in his works. A large plethora of works based on folklore motifs was created in the 1920’s–1930’s as a result of expeditions to the South­East of Bashkortostan. They were arranged by the first generation of artists to collect ethnographic materials to enlarge the archives of Bashkir ethnic museums. The expeditions resulted in Y.Y. Blumental’s paintings: “Bashkir­rider”, “Old­Bashkir”, “Bashkir porch”, “Drinking kumys”, “Samsinur”; V.S. Syromyatnikov’s paintings – “Portrait of a Bashkir girl”, “Nomadic street”, “Guests of the bride’s party”, drawing samples of the Bashkir ornament; K.S. Davletkildeyev’s paintings – “A porch of a Bashkir house”,  “Bashkir­girl”, “Bashkir­girl in blue”, “Bashkir­bear hunter”; these works became classics of the republic fine art. The works of ethnic themes turned out to be very popular among foreign viewers at the exhibition in San­-Diego (the USA) in 1929.

R.G. Gumerov, one of the founders of book graphics in Bashkortostan created accurate humorous images­illustrations of Bashkir ethnic fairytales in the 1950’s–1970’s: “Sly hare”, “Golden hemp”, “Why the Atauza lake is salty”; A.A. Astrakhantsev designed “Indian fairytales”, “Mordovian ethnic fairytales”, “Bashkir ethnic fairytales”, “Bashkie ethnic riddles” and other books. The images of the “Ural-batyr” epic are reflected in the works of a number of Bashkortostan artists-­illustrators. V.D. Dianov, who had first elaborated visual epic images, created the illustrations for the epic as per order of the Bashkir publishing house in the 1960’s–1970’s. Being the author of illustrations for “Akbuzat”, “Alpamysha and Barsynkhylu”, “Kuziykurpyas and Mayankhylu” epics, the artist applied “severe style”, which was popular in Russia in those days: the drawings do not have many tiny details, the characters are generalizations of the symbol­images. Reddish­ brown color chosen instead of traditional black allowed him to embody the association with the ancient drawings in the Shulgan­tash cave through the pictures. A.A. Kostin, who also worked in the sphere of book graphics, was mainly creating the illustrations for the ethnic fairytales: “Fairytales of Bashkortostan people’s” (1993), “Bashkir fairytales and legends” (1996).

Ethnic motifs of Bashkir everyday life were represented by the still life paintings “Quaray” (1971), “Bashkir honey” (1984). “Still life with zhilyan” (1986) created with respect of native art canons by A.K. Sitdikova. Decorative art works by sculptor and ceramist T.P. Nechayeva are created with bright individual talent. The decorative compositions of the master reflect the original Bashkir folklore traditions: consider the artistic china – “Dance of three brothers”, “Dexterity” (both – 1955), “Bashkir beauty” (1956); consider the art ceramics – “Red song” panel (1967), “Honey” dinner service, “Quaray” vase (1982), “Bashkir dance” plate (1984), etc. S.A. Lebedev’s art works have typical features of folklore aesthetic “White day” (1978), “Spring” (1987), “Paraskev’s Friday” (1995), “Russian cross” (2005). Folklore motifs are reflected in the art works of a prominent person for the fine art of Bashkortostan – A.F. Lutfullin. Many of his paintings relate to the customs, types, everyday life and culture of Bashkir people: “Bashkir woman” (1958), “The Bashkir Urals. To sabantuy” (1964), “Three women” (1969), “Bashkir interior”, (1974), “Summoning rain” (1994); the works represent ethnic music – “Kubyz players” (1985), “Kubyz melodies” (1987), “White yurt” (1989), etc. Everyday life, traditions and folklore of Udmurt people were reflected in the works of artist M.G. Garipov: a series of etchings called “Legends and lore of the Udmurt people” (1989–88), “Holidays” (1989), “Prayer” papers (1990), “Sacrifice tree” (1991), illustration to the Udmurt ethnic fairytale called “Girl and mouse” (1989) and “myths, legends and lore of Udmurt people” book (1986). Bashkir folklore influenced D.A. Suleymanov’s art, his expressive beautiful paintings fascinate with the epic power and severe poetics: “Legend about quaray” (1998), “Fight with a bull” (2005), “Genghis Khan”, “Sesen”, “Moon. Woman” series (2007– 09). Artist A.M. Mazitov relates to folklore and expresses the images of Bashkir epic, parable and bylina heroes in his works. He is an unsurpassed master of manipulating scale and angle, space and rhythms, he uses a brutal style: “Parables” series (1995–2001), “Ural­batyr Epic” (1998–2001),  “Big  milky  way”  (2001–08).

F.R. Yergaliyev’s art reflect a decorative­applied Bashkir art, ancient myths and symbolism of Turkic peoples. The bright style of his works containing   semi­abstract   forms,   conditional symbols and allegories are represented by the works: “Thought about the eternal” (1990), “Kipchak tamgi” (1995), “Two times” (2000).

R.S. Khabirov represented ethnic costumes (male, female) and folklore attributes with the ancient method of classic painting. He has interesting portraits of people in ethnic costumes and still life paintings of the Bashkir history and cultural objects: “Portrait of Alsu in ethnic costume” (1997), “Interior with a spinning wheel” (2005), “Liliya from Saitbaba village” (2007).

R.Z. Kharisov’s art works are based on Tatar folklore and created in “neo­primitive” style, his language of shapes is clear, soft, metaphoric. “Ethnic craftswoman” (1978), “For berries” (1996), “Pink horse” (1996), “Spring. Bride” (1997) and other works reflect the motifs of the legends and lore, customs and traditions of the Tatar people. Plots of the Mari myths and ceremonies as well as “Small rope” Mari dance are represented by the works of G.G. Kalitov, the author of “Mari rituals” series of autolithographs (1994–2002), “Characters of Mari mythology” linocuts (2015–17). In 2011 he headed ethno­futuristic art­project called “Kandyra”, the participants of which used kinds of art popular among the youth (body­art, video­making, happening and performance) One of the main themes of the prominent master of printed graphics K.G. Gubaydullin was the preservation of ethnic traditions and culture: “Granny’s chest” (1991), “Bashkir gothics” (1996); he focused on “Korkut­ata” epic images in 1999– 2000 and created original papers with precise psychological characteristics. The series dedicated to Bashkir proverbs and idioms became a logical continuation of his works. Sculptor M.R. Khalilov, based on the motifs of Bashkir folklore, created “Khomay” (1991), “Sorrow” (1997), “Ural-­batyr” (2012), “Legend about Akyal” (2013); based on clan attributes of Bashkir tribes he created “Yurmaty Lands” compositions (1996–2005). Artist N.I. Kupriyanov created his works based on the plots and images of Russian fairytales, they are similar to “fantasy” style and have a unique set of colors: “Guliver’s day” (1985), “Battle near the spring” (1987), “Russian knight” origami (2012). Russian folklore and ethnic art is also represented by the works of the ceramist V.G. Kuznetsovs: “Vila­-tsaritsa” (1989), “Spring-horsewoman” (1990) cycles of mythological and fantastical images. So called “urban” folklore has appeared as a result of cities’ growth and development (city legends, romances, etc.), M. Marin uses it in his art. Prominent culture and art figures, such as A.Tarkovskiy, S. Dovlatov, M. Tsvetayeva, etc. became the characters of his works: “Ship. In memory of N. Gumilyev” (2015), “Unicorn’s shelter” (2000), “Khumay” (2017). Graphic artist and painter F.K. Shagabutdinov creates picturesque views on Ufa life and life of its tenants, painting Ufa landscapes, people, etc. on his canvases: “Journey” (1993), “Tree of life” series (2000), “Tenyeta” sysle (2004). Motifs of Udmurt folklore are reflected in the art of the natives of Bashkortostan – R.Z. Batyrshin, K.S. Galikhanov, M.M. Zidiyarov. Folklore became one of the main themes of A.A. Bayramgulova’s, S.M. Gilyazetdinov’s, G.S. Gilyazetdinova’s, R.R. Kadyrov’s, T.K. Masalimov’s, K.S. Fazylova’s, etc. art. Ufa art gallery held the art “Multicolored traditions” exhibition dedicated to Universal folklore games in RB in December, 2019.