Alexei Khvostenko
Encyclopedia
Alexei Khvostenko November 14, 1940 – November 30, 2004, was a Russia
n avant-garde
poet
, singer-songwriter
, artist and sculptor. Khvostenko is also frequently referred to by the nickname Khvost , meaning "tail".
). He soon moved to Leningrad
(now Saint Petersburg
), where he grew up. He studied at the Leningrad State Institute of Theatre, Music and Cinematography
. In 1963 he published through samizdat
his first book, "Podozritel'" (translates, roughly, as "He, who suspects"). While in Leningrad, together with Henri Volohonski, Khvostenko founded an avant-garde literary group, "Verpa".
In 1968 Khvostenko moved to Moscow
and became an active figure in Russian underground literary circles, publishing his poetry and songs through samizdat
. Khvostenko became a prominent figure in the revival of the avant-garde movement in Soviet literature and art that became possible during Nikita Khrushchev
's "thaw" after the death of Joseph Stalin
. He is sometimes referred to as the "grandfather of Russian rock".
Khvostenko co-wrote the song "The Golden City" ("Город золотой") that later achieved iconic status in Russia when it was sung by Boris Grebenshchikov in the 1987 film "Assa
". Apart from literary works, Khvostenko was also an accomplished painter and sculptor (although his work was not officially exhibited), known for his innovative collages.
Although he did not consider himself to be a political dissident, Khvostenko was regularly harassed and persecuted by the Soviet authorities, accused of social parasitism
(тунея́дство), and at one point was put into a psychiatric hospital (a tactic commonly employed by the Soviet authorities for punishing political dissidents). At the time Khvostenko was good friends with a prominent Russian poet Joseph Brodsky
, who was also persecuted by the Soviet authorities.
In 1977 Khvostenko was forced by the Soviet authorities to emigrate. He ended up settling in Paris
. There Khvostenko, together with Vladimir Maramzin, launched a literary journal, "Echo" . Khvostenko became a leading figure in the Russian literary community in France
. His Paris studio became "a kind of club, where many famous groups and singers performed".
While living in France, Khvostenko recorded a number of song albums, including several albums in the 1990s with the Russian rock group Auktyon
(АукцЫон).
His songs became widely popular in Russia, particularly after the dissolution of the Soviet Union
.
In 2004, after a personal appeal to President Vladimir Putin
, Khvostenko regained his Russian citizenship. Subsequently he divided his time between Paris and Moscow. Alexei Khvostenko died of heart failure on November 30, 2004 in a Moscow hospital.
A year after his death Alexei Khvostenko's friends published his collected literary works in an anthology called "Verpa" – a word "invented by Khvostenko to describe his literary credo".
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n avant-garde
Avant-garde
Avant-garde means "advance guard" or "vanguard". The adjective form is used in English to refer to people or works that are experimental or innovative, particularly with respect to art, culture, and politics....
poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
, artist and sculptor. Khvostenko is also frequently referred to by the nickname Khvost , meaning "tail".
Biography
Alexei Khvostenko was born on November 14, 1940 in Sverdlovsk (now YekaterinburgYekaterinburg
Yekaterinburg is a major city in the central part of Russia, the administrative center of Sverdlovsk Oblast. Situated on the eastern side of the Ural mountain range, it is the main industrial and cultural center of the Urals Federal District with a population of 1,350,136 , making it Russia's...
). He soon moved to Leningrad
Leningrad
Leningrad is the former name of Saint Petersburg, Russia.Leningrad may also refer to:- Places :* Leningrad Oblast, a federal subject of Russia, around Saint Petersburg* Leningrad, Tajikistan, capital of Muminobod district in Khatlon Province...
(now Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
), where he grew up. He studied at the Leningrad State Institute of Theatre, Music and Cinematography
Saint Petersburg State Theatre Arts Academy
Saint Petersburg State Theatre Arts Academy is a theatre school in Saint Petersburg. Established in 1779, it is the oldest and largest institution of its kind in Russia.- History :...
. In 1963 he published through samizdat
Samizdat
Samizdat was a key form of dissident activity across the Soviet bloc in which individuals reproduced censored publications by hand and passed the documents from reader to reader...
his first book, "Podozritel'" (translates, roughly, as "He, who suspects"). While in Leningrad, together with Henri Volohonski, Khvostenko founded an avant-garde literary group, "Verpa".
In 1968 Khvostenko moved to Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
and became an active figure in Russian underground literary circles, publishing his poetry and songs through samizdat
Samizdat
Samizdat was a key form of dissident activity across the Soviet bloc in which individuals reproduced censored publications by hand and passed the documents from reader to reader...
. Khvostenko became a prominent figure in the revival of the avant-garde movement in Soviet literature and art that became possible during Nikita Khrushchev
Nikita Khrushchev
Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev led the Soviet Union during part of the Cold War. He served as First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1953 to 1964, and as Chairman of the Council of Ministers, or Premier, from 1958 to 1964...
's "thaw" after the death of Joseph Stalin
Joseph Stalin
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was the Premier of the Soviet Union from 6 May 1941 to 5 March 1953. He was among the Bolshevik revolutionaries who brought about the October Revolution and had held the position of first General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's Central Committee...
. He is sometimes referred to as the "grandfather of Russian rock".
Khvostenko co-wrote the song "The Golden City" ("Город золотой") that later achieved iconic status in Russia when it was sung by Boris Grebenshchikov in the 1987 film "Assa
Assa (film)
Assa is a Soviet film directed by Sergei Solovyov and released in 1987. It became a cult film, mostly thanks to the fact that it was one of the films that brought Russian rock music from the underground into the mainstream.-Plot:...
". Apart from literary works, Khvostenko was also an accomplished painter and sculptor (although his work was not officially exhibited), known for his innovative collages.
Although he did not consider himself to be a political dissident, Khvostenko was regularly harassed and persecuted by the Soviet authorities, accused of social parasitism
Parasitism (social offense)
Social parasitism is a charge that is leveled against a group or class in society which is considered to be detrimental to the whole by analogy with biologic parasitism .-General concept:...
(тунея́дство), and at one point was put into a psychiatric hospital (a tactic commonly employed by the Soviet authorities for punishing political dissidents). At the time Khvostenko was good friends with a prominent Russian poet Joseph Brodsky
Joseph Brodsky
Iosif Aleksandrovich Brodsky , was a Russian poet and essayist.In 1964, 23-year-old Brodsky was arrested and charged with the crime of "social parasitism" He was expelled from the Soviet Union in 1972 and settled in America with the help of W. H. Auden and other supporters...
, who was also persecuted by the Soviet authorities.
In 1977 Khvostenko was forced by the Soviet authorities to emigrate. He ended up settling in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. There Khvostenko, together with Vladimir Maramzin, launched a literary journal, "Echo" . Khvostenko became a leading figure in the Russian literary community in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. His Paris studio became "a kind of club, where many famous groups and singers performed".
While living in France, Khvostenko recorded a number of song albums, including several albums in the 1990s with the Russian rock group Auktyon
Auktyon
Auktyon or АукцЫон is a Russian avant-garde rock band from Saint Petersburg, Russia.The band was founded by Leonid Fyodorov and Oleg Garkusha at the Polytechnic Institute of Leningrad...
(АукцЫон).
His songs became widely popular in Russia, particularly after the dissolution of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
.
In 2004, after a personal appeal to President Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin served as the second President of the Russian Federation and is the current Prime Minister of Russia, as well as chairman of United Russia and Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Union of Russia and Belarus. He became acting President on 31 December 1999, when...
, Khvostenko regained his Russian citizenship. Subsequently he divided his time between Paris and Moscow. Alexei Khvostenko died of heart failure on November 30, 2004 in a Moscow hospital.
A year after his death Alexei Khvostenko's friends published his collected literary works in an anthology called "Verpa" – a word "invented by Khvostenko to describe his literary credo".
External links
- "Никакое трагическое мироощущение мне не присуще..." The last interview with Alexei Khvostenko (in Russian). "Русский журнал. Рабочие тетради". November 22, 2004.
- Alexei Khvostenko live in Moscow, a photo gallery from a Moscow concert
- Видео-интервью с Алексеем Хвоcтенко (Нью-Йорк,1996 г.) на сайте Геннадия Кацова English translation of ПОДОЗРИТЕЛЬ, The Suspector, a seminal minimalist serial poem in 50 parts published in samizdat in 1965