Real paintings can be created not only with the usual paints on canvas, but also, for example, with a knife on wood. Such amazing wooden "canvases" Kronida Gogoleva, which depict everyday scenes of peasant life, and even picturesque landscapes, serve as excellent proof of this. But wood carving is a much more energy-intensive, but exciting way of drawing than classical painting.
Kronid Aleksandrovich was born in 1926 in the family of a priest who decided to give his son a name in honor of the god Zeus. The youth of the future artist took place in difficult wartime. In 1941, Kronid graduated from a seven-year school, and at the age of 16 the young man went to the front. He survived all the horrors of the Great Patriotic War, steadfastly withstood military trials, for which he received the medals "For Courage" and "For the Capture of Königsberg".
Three years after the demobilization, Kronid Gogolev entered the Leningrad Art and Graphic Pedagogical School, and after graduation he went to Karelia. There he first worked in the village of Kestenga, and then moved to the city of Sortavala. At that time, the master combined several classes at once: he worked as a graphic designer, worked as a teacher and studied in absentia at the art and graphics department of Herzen University.
It was in Karelia that Gogolev first discovered woodcarving in the technique of deep multi-layered relief. This folk art form was almost forgotten, so the master’s work did not immediately receive recognition, and his colleagues considered him an “eccentric” and looked down on him.
The understanding that Kronid Gogolev was bringing back to life the lost traditions of the Russian school of wood carving came much later, but brought the artist unprecedented popularity. In 1985, Gogolev was accepted into the Union of Artists of Karelia, and three years later his personal exhibition hall was opened in the city of Sortavala.
Kronid devoted his paintings to his native Karelia and the harsh nature of Ladoga. The artist sang the beauty and wisdom of the way of life of the northern village, its centuries-old traditions and simple everyday affairs.
Today, when the master himself is gone, his works continue to delight viewers in museums and galleries in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Valaam, America, Germany, Finland, Sweden and even Japan.
People's Artist of Russia - Kronid Alexandrovich was born in 1926 in the village of Prutskoye, Novgorod province, in the family of a former priest. At the age of 16 he went to the front, went through the entire war, ending it in 1945 in East Germany. Military awards of the artist: medal "For Courage" (1944); medal "For Courage" (1945); medal "For the victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945" (May 9, 1945); medal "For the Capture of Koenigsberg" (June 9, 1945); Order of the Patriotic War II degree (March 11, 1985).
In 1953, he entered the Leningrad Art and Graphic Pedagogical School, after which he left at the invitation to Karelia, first to the village of Kestenga, and then, in 1961, to the city of Sortavala. Simultaneously with the work of an artist-designer, teacher, Gogolev graduated in absentia from the graphic arts department of the Herzen University. In 1967, he founded the Children's Art School in Sortavala, which is now successfully preparing children for admission to the country's art universities. In Sortavala, the artist first turned to wood, which soon became the main material of his work. New for its time, and at the same time, an almost forgotten folk art form does not immediately find recognition - Gogolev was accepted into the Union of Artists of Karelia only in 1985. Since 1988, an exhibition hall of the artist's works has been operating in the city of Sortavala. The works of Kronid Gogolev are in the Museum of Decorative and Applied Arts in Moscow, the Polytechnic Museum, the Ethnographic Museum in St. Petersburg, the Museum on Valaam, in private collections in America, Japan, Germany, Finland, Sweden.
The artist himself in an interview speaks about his work: “I was once asked the question: “Why do you work?” And I thought, but really, why? My endless studies not only did not bring me closer to any particular artist, but, on the contrary, pushed me further and further, and this gap is getting wider. And I realized that unsurpassed artists, such as Serov, that is, already demigods, they are unattainable. But through my creativity, I come to understand this art, how he held a pencil, what this line is, how it sounds. And happiness is just that. Maybe I even took up woodwork because I realized that everything I used to do - I can’t achieve more, this is my ceiling ... And the turning point was that I decided to make my drawings in some kind of material, and when wood touched, I lost peace for several decades and found some meaning. And it became easier for me. I didn't have to look back anymore. I was inspired by the process itself, that I do physical work ... ".
The plots of woodwork are closely connected with the fate of the Master. The theme of the Russian North, expressive nature, ordinary people, their way of life and holidays are vividly reflected in his work. In various reliefs, the artist managed to use the warmth of natural material inherent in wood, plasticity, the play of layers and shades of natural color, to convey the flickering of water, the breath of forest thickets, the mystery of epic tales of the past. Wood is a generous material - it absorbs the energy of the artist, his talent and skill, and, examining the exposition, everyone receives a piece of this gift, peace and joy.
You will be in the Karelian city Sortavala be sure to visit the museum of works Kronida Gogoleva. An indescribable impression from the incomparable pictures of the life of the simple Russian people, created in a rare manner of woodcarving. Like living people, instantly frozen in their affairs, the trees growing right out of the picture convey the unique flavor of Russian life and the Karelian epic. We look at the photo.
This is a deep carving technique. The effects of depth, perspective, three-dimensionality in them are achieved by deepening the relief in certain places, as well as by tinting the wood with wood stain. Linden is used as the material, as it has the qualities necessary for carving.
The wood is viscous, holds the edge well, it does not have layering, which is strongly pronounced in other species. Some of the works are made of New Zealand jelotong wood. This material has a more yellow tint and is much softer than linden.
The plots of the reliefs, as a rule, are the Karelian-Finnish epic Kalevala, Russian folklore, the nature of Valaam, the life and holidays of the simple Russian people in the village. All works of the artist can be divided into four periods. About the first - these are decorative vessels with embossed carvings applied to them, small plastic. The second stage dates back to the mid-1980s. When large wooden panels with shallow relief were created.
In 1989, after the opening of the border with Finland, the artist began to actively cooperate with Finnish masters. Trips abroad, new acquaintances with such well-known woodworkers as Eva Rynnanen, Erkki Luostarinen, Oiva Kentta somewhat change both the theme of his works and the style of their execution. The theme of his works during this period gravitates towards the plots of the Karelian-Finnish epic "Kalevala", the history of Sortavala when he was a Finnish city. The relief itself becomes multifaceted, deep. From the Finnish masters, Gogolev borrows a juicy, velvety tinting technique, which allows you to achieve a smooth transition, or vice versa, absolutely does not tint the surface of the relief.
With age, he returns to the roots, and, despite the influence of Finnish culture, the artist’s memory turns to the primordially Russian, absorbed from childhood, the life of the village, even the one that could survive until the mid-thirties in the depths of Russia. A village not killed by collectivization. And therefore, in the last period of his work, the artist seems to return to that time, using plots in reliefs related to the culture of everyday life in the Russian village.
Now the museum of the private collection of Kronid Gogolev works in the city of Sortavala. It features about 100 works by the artist.
Museum of the private collection of Kronid Gogolev. 186790, Republic of Karelia, Sortavala, st. Komsomolskaya, 6 http://artgogolev.ru
** Kronid - Son of Kronos, father of Zeus
Gogolev Kronid Alexandrovich was born in 1926 in the village of Prutskoye, Novgorod province, in the family of a former priest. At the age of 16 he went to the front, went through the whole war, was demobilized in 1950. Three years later he entered the Leningrad Art and Graphic Pedagogical School, after which he left at the invitation to Karelia, first to the village of Kestenga, and then, in 1961, - in the city of Sortavala. Simultaneously with the work of a graphic designer, teacher, Gogolev graduated in absentia from the graphic arts department of the Herzen University. In Sortavala, the artist first turned to wood, which soon became the main material of his work. New for its time, and at the same time, an almost forgotten folk art form does not immediately find recognition - Gogolev was accepted into the Union of Artists of Karelia only in 1985. Since 1988, an exhibition hall of the artist's works has been operating in the city of Sortavala. The works of Kronid Gogolev are in the Museum of Decorative and Applied Arts in Moscow, the Polytechnic Museum, the Ethnographic Museum in St. Petersburg, the Museum on Valaam, in private collections in America, Japan, Germany, Finland, Sweden.
Carved from wood are dedicated to Karelia, the native city of Sortavala, the harsh Ladoga nature. Many of the master's works are dedicated to the folk life of the northern village with its peculiar beauty and wise way of life, with established centuries-old traditions and simple, everyday affairs. The artist also carves figurines of fairy-tale characters, and household items - lamps, watch frames. Many of Gogolev's paintings, carved from tree, seem to be “voiced”, in them you can hear the leisurely speech of people, fairy-tale characters, watch the peaceful splashing of the waves, the sound of the wind in the sails of fishing boats, feel the aroma of a pine forest. Kronid Gogolev is one of those wonderful masters under whose magical hands tree sings. He sings simply, sincerely, sincerely, from the bottom of his heart.
Museum, Cultural and Exhibition Center named after Gogolev K.A.
The museum is a must-see when visiting the city of Sortavala! (c) Team "Ecotourservice"
The cultural and exhibition center named after K. A. Gogolev combined two areas: a unique collection of the artist’s works and art, educational and educational activities in the field of fine arts. Both of these trends are inextricably linked with the name of their founder - the People's Artist of Russia - Kronid Aleksandrovich Gogolev.
The activity of the center is aimed at meeting the cultural and aesthetic needs of the population and attracts the attention of all residents and guests of the city without exception. The main part of the exposition of the Exhibition Hall is works in a unique woodcarving technique. Paintings and drawings of the artist are also presented. Cultural and Exhibition Center. Gogoleva K.A. has ample opportunities in the field of culture and fine arts: these are exhibition services, excursion activities, additional education (lectures, master classes, etc.) for everyone, etc.
The exhibition hall named after Kronid Alexandrovich Gogolev is located in an old Finnish building built in 1899. A unique collection of the People's Artist of Russia Kronid Aleksandrovich Gogolev is stored and available for viewing here.
Kronid Gogolev is an outstanding personality for our city, a professional artist who worked in a unique manner, is known throughout the world. The main part of the works on display is a sculptural relief in wood; you can also see the author's paintings. The theme of the Russian North, expressive nature, ordinary people, their way of life and holidays are vividly reflected in his work.
The author lived in Sortavala for more than half a century, and it is not surprising that Gogolev created many works with images of the city and the Karelian epic Kalevala. In various reliefs, the artist managed to use the warmth of natural material inherent in wood, plasticity, the play of shades of natural color, to convey the flickering of water, the breath of forest thickets, the mystery of epic tales of the past. Wood is a generous material - it absorbs the energy of the artist, his talent and skill, and, looking at the exposition, everyone receives a piece of this gift, peace and joy. Travel agencies must include a visit to the Exhibition Hall in their excursion programs.
In addition to the main collection, artists, photographers, sculptors from Sortavala, St. Petersburg, Moscow and other regions regularly exhibit in the Hall. During his long and fruitful life, Kronid Aleksandrovich himself organized many exhibitions, and we are happy to continue this good and necessary tradition.
Showroom opening hours:
- During the summer period from June 1 to August 31: from 10 am. until 20h.
- In other months, from 10:00 a.m. until 17h.
Price-list:
- The cost of a full ticket, including photography - 100 rubles.
- The ticket price for citizens of preferential categories is 50 rubles.
- Inspection of the exposition for children under 7 years old is free. And also for students of specialized universities (fine arts, art history, DPI, museology).
- The cost of excursion service for a group is 100 rubles. The group is formed from 5 people.
- Video filming in agreement with the Administration - 500 rubles.
* Photos from the museum website and from the collection of Iraida Prokopik.
