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1886 - 1957

Alexander Nikolaevich Volkov

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An Uzbek artist of Russian origin, one of the main founders of contemporary art in Central Asia, the organizer of several art associations of Uzbekistan, his motherland, where he worked fruitfully. The phenomenon of the Russian and Asian master lies in the fact that his best works are important not only for the formation of the Turkestan and Uzbek painting school but also for the history of art in general.

The artist’s legacy took a special place in the overall development of Central Asian art of the 20th century since it had its origins in the art of the East and the West. Volkov actively used traditional national motifs of arts and crafts and achieved monumentalism in creating images of ordinary workers, not losing touch with the cubist painting manner.

Despite getting the title of People’s Artist in 1946, Alexander Volkov was accused of formalism in the same year; he was forbidden from exhibiting his paintings and teaching at the Tashkent Art College, where he had worked for almost 20 years.

Key ideas:

– In general, the painting system of Volkov consisted of his comprehension of the painting laws of the traditional Asian art, which was formed under the influence of Islamic restrictions, in combination with the techniques of new European art.

– In Islamic culture, he saw not an aspect of theology, but a visual and plastic embodiment that gave freedom from imitation of nature and became an original component of the powerful “music of colour”.

– Volkov’s early art is characterized by the modern style; he actively used reminiscences on the “crystalline” painting of Vrubel, which is especially evident in his canvas “Persian Woman”.

– Having experienced the influence of Cubism, he organically combined its techniques with planar ornaments. Studying Uzbek music and applied art in depth, he strove to use traditional motifs actively – his paintings are similar to oriental carpets due to their laconicism, monotonous rhythm and pure colour.

– At the beginning of the 1920s, monumentality and enhanced energy of colour became inherent in his manner; a semi-abstract game with forms was added to Cubist geometry; after the triptych “Caravan”, it reached its dramatic culmination in the artist’s most famous painting “Pomegranate Teahouse”.

– The artist, who preferred juiciness in painting, achieved the effect of «jingling» paints by different technologies: coloured soils, transparent glaze, mixing oil and tempera; used sand with the material for the texture.

– Volkov used unique colour energy also in the things, which he had to paint in the style of social realism; however, work themes resemble epic frescoes in his paintings.

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1886

1907

1908

1910

1912

1919

1920

1922

1923

1929

1931

1934

1937

1946

1957

The birth of the artist

Alexander Nikolaevich Volkov was born on August 31 in 1886 in New Margelan (now Ferghana), Uzbekistan.

He began to study at the workshop of watercolourist D. Bortniker

Quitting studies at the Faculty of Economics of St. Petersburg University, he began to study at the workshop of watercolourist D. Bortniker.

Entered the Higher St. Petersburg Art School at the Academy of Arts

Entered the Higher St. Petersburg Art School at the Academy of Arts; studied at the class of V. Makovsky, a master of the everyday genre.

He attended classes of painters N. Roerich, And Bilibin and sculptor L. Sherwood

He attended classes of painters N. Roerich, And Bilibin and sculptor L. Sherwood at the private school of Bernstein.

Entered a four-year monumental painting class at the Kyiv Art College

Entered a four-year monumental painting class at the Kyiv Art College. His teachers were progressive F. Krichevsky and V. Menk.

He became the first director of the State Museum of Arts of Central Asia

He became the first director of the State Museum of Arts of Central Asia (Tashkent). He taught as a master leader at the regional central workshops of the Turkestan Folk Art School.

The first solo exhibition

His first solo exhibition was held at the Turkestan University (Tashkent). As an instructor at the People’s Commissariat for Education, the artist organized the art education of children in the country’s schools.

He was appointed the director of the theater of the Proletarian culture

He was appointed the director of the theater of the Proletarian culture. He made creative trips around Turkestan (Bukhara, Samarkand and other cities). The artist started working on three large canvases “Caravan I, II, III”, which became an expression of his plastic searches.

The personal vernissage of the artist took place in Moscow

The personal vernissage of the artist took place in Moscow. The exhibition of 120 works evoked numerous press responses, noting the originality and talent of the author’s picturesque language, his love for the East.

"Masters of the New East"

Became a member of the art community “Masters of the New East”. He worked as a teacher at the Tashkent Art College.

Became the organizer of the art association "Volkov Brigade"

Became the organizer of the art association “Volkov Brigade”, the members of which traveled to remote corners of the country to create thematic paintings and hold exhibitions.

“Morning in Shahimardan”

Volkov’s creation “Morning in Shahimardan” represented the art of Uzbekistan in Philadelphia (the USA). In search of scenes and nature, the artist traveled to Uzbekistan (Shakhimardan, Kadyrstroy, etc.).

The artist got a son

The artist got a son, whom he named Alexander; later, he preserved his father’s paintings and became a famous Abstractionist artist.

Volkov was awarded the title of People's Artist of Uzbekistan

Volkov was awarded the title of People’s Artist of Uzbekistan. Soon, according to the Zhdanov’s decrees, a revolt against formalism started and led to the complete isolation of the artist. He was suspended from teaching at the college.

“The Works of People's Artist A. Volkov: 70th Birth Anniversary, 50 Years of Creative Work"

After ten years of oblivion, the Union of Artists of Uzbekistan hosted an exhibition named “The Works of People’s Artist A. Volkov: 70th Birth Anniversary, 50 Years of Creative Work”. Several canvases were purchased by museums.