Soviet Art

USSR Culture

Soviet artist Alexandr Kirchanov 1919-1987

State farm groom. Canvas, oil. 1969. Soviet artist Alexandr Kirchanov (August 28, 1919 - July 27, 1987)

State farm groom. Canvas, oil. 1969. Soviet artist Alexandr Kirchanov (August 28, 1919 – July 27, 1987)

Soviet artist Alexandr Kirchanov (August 28, 1919 – July 27, 1987) – painter, People’s Artist of the RSFSR (1984), member of the USSR Union of Artists (1953), and Honored Artist of the RSFSR (1972). He was the first of the Kuzbass artists who began to participate in the All-Union and republican exhibitions. Alexander Kirchanov refers to the constellation of Soviet artists, brought up by their time, the years of socialist construction. He lived in harmony with his era and therefore, was sincere in his work. One of the leading themes of his art is the small peoples of Siberia, inhabiting the edges. This direction has brought fame to him.

Miner wedding on the farm, 1952 (co-author Paul Chernov)

Miner wedding on the farm, 1952 (co-author Paul Chernov)

Alexander Kirchanov was born August 28, 1919 in Tomsk. In 1934-37 he worked as a graphic designer at the club of Kemerovo tractor station. In the 1937-41 was an artist of “Kuzbass” newspaper. Meanwhile, in his free time, he drew a lot from life and copied the works of famous artists. In 1938, the Kuzbass regional Folk House sent him to Moscow for seminars for amateur artists. The famous Soviet masters conducted the seminars – IE Grabar, VS Svarog, FA Frolov, etc. In Moscow, he created two large paintings: “Presentation of the Red Banner to the First Regiment of Lugansk” and “VI Lenin and NK Krupskaya in the village of Kashino.” In May 1941, he again arrived in Moscow for a seminar in preparation for the All-Union Exhibition “Defense of the USSR.”

In December 1941 he was drafted into the Soviet Army, and soon his part of an aviation unit was transferred to 3rd Ukrainian Front. Artistic talent was useful even in the years of the war. He was drawing topographic maps, produced combat leaflets with caricatures of the enemy, and at night fitfully tried to paint from life. The artist met long-awaited Victory Day already in the liberated from the Nazis Austria.

After demobilization in 1946, he returned to Kemerovo and got a job in Kemerovo workshops of Art Fund. Due to the high efficiency achieved considerable success and recognition in the Kemerovo region, Novosibirsk region and republican, All-Russian Exhibition in Moscow. A significant role in the creation played the numerous trips to so-called “Academic Dacha”. Art lessons, teamwork and direct communication with the artists enriched his skills.
In the 1965-67 he was chairman of the Kemerovo branch of Union of Artists of the RSFSR.

Soviet artist Alexandr Kirchanov

Portrait of a miner. Canvas, oil. 1969

Portrait of a miner. Canvas, oil. 1969

No doubt his paintings, whether portraits, sketches, genre scenes painted in the village, or industrial motifs, or Siberian landscapes are symbols of great events and common destiny. They show the spiritual powers of man. Every work of the master – is primarily a history of Kuzbass page, of indigenous peoples, and workers who live in the land of the Kuznetsk.
He was a member of the Central Auditing Commission of the RSFSR Union of Artists (1972). His works exhibited in Czechoslovakia and Hungary (1980). Exhibitions of works held in 1967 and 1970 (Kemerovo), and in 1981 (Moscow).

Soviet artist Alexandr Kirchanov (August 28, 1919 - July 27, 1987)

Soviet artist Alexandr Kirchanov (August 28, 1919 – July 27, 1987)

Soviet artist Alexandr Kirchanov died on July 27, 1987 (Kemerovo). In 1989, appeared a memorial museum of the artist in his last workshop in Kemerovo regional museum. In addition, his works are kept in museums of Kemerovo, Novokuznetsk, Novosibirsk, Tomsk, Barnaul, Krasnoyarsk and Irkutsk.

In the rural radio station 1951

In the rural radio station 1951

Memorial plate on the house where the artist lived. Kirchanov street

Memorial plate on the house where the artist lived. Kirchanov street

Miner-surveyor

Miner-surveyor

Portrait of a student

Portrait of a student

Seagulls

Seagulls

Shepherds

Shepherds

Sketch for the painting 'Cyclists'. 1965

Sketch for the painting ‘Cyclists’. 1965

Visiting sick girlfriend, 1955

Visiting sick girlfriend, 1955