Exhibition of Sculptures by Pavel Turaev in the Russian Academy of Arts

The solo show of the noted Moscow sculptor, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Arts Pavel Turaev brings together his sculptural compositions, portraits, plastic art of small forms produced in various years.

 

Pavel Turaev belongs to the generation of masters who were actively involved  in the art life in the 1980-s.  He was born in Moscow in 1955. In 1979 Pavel Turaev  graduated from V. Surikov Moscow State Academy Art Institute where he majored in sculpture under Prof. Baburin, a distinguished Russian master of sculpture.  Pavel Turaev started out as a frequent exhibitor in art shows during his study at V. Surikov Art Institute. At the All-USSR art exhibition in 1979 the works of the young sculptor were highly appreciated and he was awarded a Diploma of the USSR Academy of Arts.  

 

This solo exhibition presents sculptural works of the master with his individual manner and stylistics. They give us an idea of his understanding of contemporary sculpture and reveal Pavel Turaev’s perfect skill in all the media of plastic art.

 

Among the sculptor’s early works one can see his “Flamenco” composition in which he brilliantly conveys the element of the dance.  The swift turn of figures in the space, expressiveness, play of forms and their interaction arouse a feeling of freedom and joy of life.

 

The topics of Pavel  Turaev’s works are mainly connected with the present, but the theme of Creation has remained his innermost one since his diploma work. The sculptural composition “Creativity. Reloading” (1979-2010) containing a broad philosophical sense can be considered as his program work. In Turaev’s  interpretation,  this sculpture is a personification of the connection of times: the art of the past and antiquity will always be a source of inspiration for contemporary artists. 

 

In portraits of the celebrated composer Vladimir Shainsky, People’s Artist of Russia Alexander Morozov the model similarity is combined with a psychological analysis, revealing the spiritual essence of the personality. Creating his images Pavel Turaev turns to a concrete person and at the same time finds this or that degree of generalization.  His “Portrait of an Italian Boy” is a personification of childish purity and fascination. In his recent works (“Penalty Kick” 2009, “Tennis” 2010) one can feel the sculptor’s aspiration for a clear classical form, harmonic perception of images. In other works, such as “Portrait of a Contemporary”, “Guy from a Professional Engineering College” through images of concrete people the sculptor portrays characteristic features of the whole generation. Of big interest is an easily recognized character - “Hypocrite in Make-Up” distinguished by the theatrical brightness and spectacular expressiveness.   

 

His works “Eve”, “Morning”,  “Daytime” show that the artist proceeds not from an idealized notion about the classical female beauty. His “Eve” personifies the primordial earth’s force, steady and sound it has been created with an utmost generalization of form.  

 

The exposition also includes works of small forms. The sculptor likes this kind of sculpture because of its boundless possibilities to experiment and create diverse plastic images: nude, genre scenes, portraits, animal sculptures. A special lyric note of the display is Pavel Turev’s images of animals including his family dog. His sculptural compositions “Sea Wonder”, “Fish”, “In Memory of All French Bulldogs” would go very well with the landscape and park design.

 

Pavel Turaev works in practically all materials and media: bronze; chamotte with enamel; plaster; ceramics and others using the best properties of each of them for achievement of the utmost expressiveness.

 

The sculptor remembers with gratitude the masters of Russian plastic art, who he  knew in person and those who have made a big impact on the formation of his personality and world outlook. These are Sergei Konenkov, Alexander Morozov, Lev Kerbel, Gabriel Shults, Iulian  Rukavishnikov, Alla Pologova.  With big interest he follows the creative work of contemporary masters such as Zurab Tsereteli, Anatoli Bichukov, Alexander Rukavishnikov, Vladimir Tsygal, Michael Pereyaslavets,  Vladimir Soskiev, Michael Dronov and others.

 

Pavel Turaev’s monumental works have found their home in many cities of Russia including Staraya Russa, Buy (Kostroma region), Salsk, Sochi, Ivanovo, Borovsk.   Many of his sculptural works are parts of the interiors designed by the Moscow leading architects. They are in museum and private collections in Russia and other countries.  






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