Returning from the field. 1968. Hardboard, gesso. Perm Art Gallery. Painting by Soviet Russian artist Viktor Trofimovich Ni (December 10, 1934, Vladivostok – December 6, 1979, Tyumen)

Soviet Russian artist Viktor Trofimovich Ni

Born in Vladivostok, far east of the USSR, Viktor Trofimovich Ni was Korean by birth. He graduated from the Penza Art College of K.A. Savitsky (1953-1958). Then, studied in the studio of the famous Soviet artist Dmitry Zhilinsky at the Moscow State Art Institute of Surikov (1958-1964). After graduation, in 1964 he moved to Orenburg and taught at the art department of the Orenburg Musical College (1975-1979).
Member of the Union of Artists of the RSFSR (1969), Viktor Ni was a regular participant of republican and foreign exhibitions of Soviet Art. He loved and studied the art of old masters (Leonardo, Vermeer, Cranach, Rublev, Dionysius), and the Italian Early Renaissance. Among Soviet artists, he appreciated Arkady Plastov and Pavel Korin, and from the art of the East – Japanese engraving.
Meanwhile, his main works include 15 canvases. Among them – “Seeing Off” 1969, “Return from the Field” 1969, “Crew of the Local Line” 1973, “Summer” 1978, and “Combiners” 1979. In addition, he repeatedly addressed to the theme of the Great Patriotic War (“Seeing off”, “1941” 1969, Liberation 1973, “Return, 1945” 1970, The soldier returned from the war, 1979). In the paintings devoted to the war, Ni never portrayed fights and deaths, but sought a poetic, song, and emotional plot.
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A village. 1965. Oil on cardboard. From the collection of State Art museum of Tatarstan, Russia. Painting by Soviet artist Alexey Avdeyevich Anikeenok

Soviet artist Alexey Avdeyevich Anikeenok

Born in Pushkin (Tsarskoe Selo) in 1925, Alexey Avdeyevich Anikeenok (3.07.1925 – May 22, 1984) – Soviet artist, veteran of WWII. After a serious injury he arrived in Kazan, where his mother was in the evacuation. In Kazan he received an art education, and began his creative career. Artist of the 60’s, he represented informal painters, discovered impressionists, was fascinated by Van Gogh, and yet – not an imitator: he was looking for his own way. Straight, freedom-loving, he tried to prove his truth and his creative solvency. He was unbending. As a result, silence and isolation were waiting for him. Very often he used to earn for living playing the saxophone in the Kazan cinema and in restaurants. Besides, he was friends with Oleg Lundstrem, who at that time lived in Kazan.
Meanwhile, after the persecution of the Kazan authorities, deprived of his workshop, he had to leave Kazan and move to Pskov (1969).
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Outgoing summer. 1979. Painting by Soviet Russian artist Yan Yulianovich Kryzhevsky (born 1948)

Soviet Russian artist Yan Yulianovich Kryzhevsky

Born April 8, 1948 in Ufa, the Bashkir ASSR, Kryzhevsky – Member of the USSR Union of Artists (1975). First, he studied at the Ufa Art College, and then tried to receive his art knowledge in the Latvian Academy of Arts of E. Zalkaln (In 1970-1972). However, expelled from the Academy, he did not finish studies. Nevertheless, he began his creative activity in 1973, taken part in the exhibition of Soviet Art. And not in vain. In particular, for the work “New Day”, shown in the Central Exhibition Hall (1976, Moscow) he received the first prize of the All-Union Exhibition of Young Artists. In addition, he became a Laureate of the Lenin Komsomol Prize (1976) for his paintings “Ufa Horizons”, and “White and Blue Day”.
Since 1977, he worked mostly in Vologda until 1988. Chairman of the youth section of the Vologda branch of the RSFSR Union of Artists, he initiated the opening the club of young artists in Vologda. Also, he organized the art exhibitions of young artists in Petrozavodsk (1978), Arkhangelsk (1980), Leningrad, and Ufa. As well as Estonian artists in Vologda (1979-80). Kryzhevsky actively took part in the regional, all-Union and foreign exhibitions of Soviet art. And the foreign exhibitions included Bulgaria, Hungary, Finland, Romania, Germany, Mongolia, France, and Italy.
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Composer Dmitry Shostakovich (25 September 1906 – 9 August 1975). Outstanding figures of Soviet art Heroes of Socialist Labor

Outstanding figures of Soviet art Heroes of Socialist Labor
This publication features the outstanding figures of Soviet art – theater, music, ballet, cinema, and fine arts – awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor. Established by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR eighty years ago – on December 27, 1938 – the title of Hero of Socialist Labor, the highest degree of labor difference, was appropriated to Soviet people for particularly outstanding services contributing to the rise of the national economy. They are people of science and culture who selflessly served their homeland. They brought the glory to the USSR with their skill and talent.
Of course, it’s impossible to talk about each of them in one publication. However, I want to begin with Dmitry Dmitrievich Shostakovich. He was a brilliant composer-symphonist, a unique artist-communist, who possessed an exceptional musical-figurative skill. Doctor of Arts, Professor, an outstanding public figure, he was a People’s Artist USSR – the people in the full meaning of this word. An innovative musician, who expanded the boundaries of the use of musical expressive means. At the same time, he is the direct heir of Russian classical musical genius. It was in this capacity that he received world recognition.
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Ivan (Jovanni) Alexeyevich Vepkhvadze (1949-2016). Dispute. Abastumani Observatory. 1979. Paintings by Soviet Georgian artists

Paintings by Soviet Georgian artists
This publication features various Georgian artists, members of the Union of Artists of the USSR, who created their paintings for the glory of Soviet art and the people of the once united state – the USSR. And the first in this gallery – Ivan Vepkhvadze (1949-2016).
Born 13 March 1949 in Tbilisi, Ivan (Jovanni) Alexeyevich Vepkhvadze was the son of a prominent Soviet Georgian artist Alexei Ivanovich Vepkhvadze. He studied at the Tbilisi State Academy of Arts at the Faculty of Painting (1967-1973). In 1973, he entered the Creative Workshop of Painting at the Academy of Arts of the USSR, from which he graduated in 1977. Immediately after graduation, he took an active part in both republican and all-Union and international exhibitions of Soviet Art. Member of the Union of Artists of the USSR (1977), he taught at the Tbilisi Art College of Ya.Nikoladze (1981-2007). Noteworthy, Ivan Alexeyevich Vepkhvadze belongs to the family of artists of the third generation. And now, his son, Bruno Vepkhvadze (b. 1986) ciontinues the tradition of his fathers.
Soviet Georgian artist Ivan (Jovanni) Alexeyevich Vepkhvadze died on May 3, 2016 (Tbilisi, Georgia). His works are in many museums and private collections in Georgia, Russia, Germany, USA, England, Armenia, France, Japan, Italy, Greece, Turkey, India, and China.
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‘Klassiki’ (popular in the USSR outdoor game for girls, known in English as Hopscotch). 1958. Paper, pencil, pastel. Drawing by Soviet Georgian graphic artist Dmitry Eristavi

Soviet Georgian graphic artist Dmitry Eristavi – Member of the USSR Union of Artists, Honored Artist of the Georgian SSR. Laureate of the Lenin Komsomol Prize of the Georgian SSR and People’s Artist of the Georgian SSR (1985). Born in 1931 in Tbilisi, he graduated from the Tbilisi Academy of Arts (1956). His teachers were Soviet artists L. Grigolia, I. Charlemagne, S. Kobuladze, D.A. Gabashvili and others. Master of easel and book graphics, poster artist, Eristavi worked also in the cinema as a set designer, and scriptwriter.
Eristavi works mainly in easel graphics. He constantly takes part in republican, all-Union and foreign exhibitions. Meanwhile, the first personal exhibition of Dmitry Eristavi in ​​Tbilisi in 1967 brought success to the artist. Thus, the same year he received the title of Honored Artist of the Georgian SSR and laureate of the Komsomol Prize of Georgia.
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Melody. 1990. Painting by Soviet Tatar artist Rifkat Mukhamedovich Vakhitov

Soviet Tatar artist Rifkat Mukhamedovich Vakhitov
Born February 26, 1938 in Izhevsk, Rifkat grew up in a typical Tatar family, where they instilled love for their national traditions. In 1965 he graduated from the Kharkov Art Institute. Aftar graduating from the institute he became a permanent participant of exhibitions of Soviet Art. And already in 1972, he became the member of the USSR Union of artists.
Meanwhile, the artist traveled a lot. Thus, the result of his creative trips to Soviet Tashkent in the 1970s, to Turkey in the mid-1990s, became his colorful landscapes. However, after a visit to America in 2012, the artist did not create a single canvas. According to the artist, the East, and in particular, Tatarstan and its culture inspire him more.
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