Mihail Chemiakin
Encyclopedia
Mihail Chemiakin is a Russia
n (ethnic Circassian (Kabardian)) painter
, stage designer, sculptor and publisher, and a controversial representative of the nonconformist art tradition of St. Petersburg.
surnamed Kardanov, had lost his parents and was adopted by a friend of his father's, White Army officer Piotr Chemiakin. The artist's father eventually became a Soviet Army
officer. He received one of the first Orders of the Red Banner
at the age of thirteen.
Mihail Chemiakin spent his early years in East Germany. His father served in the Army there. His family returned to the Soviet Union
in 1957 and he studied at the secondary school of art affiliated with the Il’ya Repin Institute of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg). In 1961 he was subjected to forced psychiatric treatment to "cure" him of views that did not conform to Soviet norms.
. With his colleagues from the museum he organized an exhibition in 1964, after which the director of the museum was fired and all the participants forced to resign. In 1967 he co-authored with philosopher Vladimir Ivanov a treatise called "Metaphysical Synthesism", which laid out his artistic principles, and created the "St. Petersburg Group" of artists . In 1971 he was exiled from the Soviet Union
for failing to conform to Socialist Realism
norms.
He settled in France and he published Apollon-77, an almanac of post-Stalinist art, poetry, and photography. He moved to New York
in 1981.
His work often features the surreal grotesque, portraying the world as a colourful carnival
.
Chemiakin, though Russian-born, signs all his works with his French name, “M. Chemiakine.” The placement of his signature varies from canvas to canvas: either in the lower right or lower left corners, though always on the bottom of the canvas. The titles of his pieces, however, are always in Russian.
In 2001, commissioned by the City of Moscow, he created a monument "Children are the Victims of Adult Vices", a powerful group of sculptures in a park 2000 feet south of the Kremlin, behind the British Ambassador's residence.
Since roughly 2001, he has been working as artistic designer on the upcoming Russian animated feature film Hoffmaniada. In 2001 he directed and designed the new surrealistic-grotesque Marinsky Theatre production of The Nutcracker
, which proved controversial (in it, the heroine Masha and the Nutcracker Prince, now married, are presumably killed by being turned into dolls atop a wedding cake at the end, with rats nibbling at the cake and rapidly approaching the top). The Mariinsky also produces the highly popular and more traditional 1934 Vasily Vainonen production of the ballet.
In 2011, he stated during his meeting with Russian prime Minister Vladimir Putin
in Brussels
that he (Chemiakin) has many projects in the works, such as a center for the artists of the North Caucasus in France ; that reflect their culture, in addition, he said that he had finished the sculpture of E. T. A. Hoffmann.
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 (ethnic Circassian (Kabardian)) painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
, stage designer, sculptor and publisher, and a controversial representative of the nonconformist art tradition of St. Petersburg.
Early life
Chemiakin was born to a military family. His father, a Kabardian from the Caucasus MountainsCaucasus Mountains
The Caucasus Mountains is a mountain system in Eurasia between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea in the Caucasus region .The Caucasus Mountains includes:* the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range and* the Lesser Caucasus Mountains....
surnamed Kardanov, had lost his parents and was adopted by a friend of his father's, White Army officer Piotr Chemiakin. The artist's father eventually became a Soviet Army
Soviet Army
The Soviet Army is the name given to the main part of the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union between 1946 and 1992. Previously, it had been known as the Red Army. Informally, Армия referred to all the MOD armed forces, except, in some cases, the Soviet Navy.This article covers the Soviet Ground...
officer. He received one of the first Orders of the Red Banner
Order of the Red Banner
The Soviet government of Russia established the Order of the Red Banner , a military decoration, on September 16, 1918 during the Russian Civil War...
at the age of thirteen.
Mihail Chemiakin spent his early years in East Germany. His father served in the Army there. His family returned to 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 1957 and he studied at the secondary school of art affiliated with the Il’ya Repin Institute of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg). In 1961 he was subjected to forced psychiatric treatment to "cure" him of views that did not conform to Soviet norms.
Career
He later got a job at the Hermitage MuseumHermitage Museum
The State Hermitage is a museum of art and culture in Saint Petersburg, Russia. One of the largest and oldest museums of the world, it was founded in 1764 by Catherine the Great and has been opened to the public since 1852. Its collections, of which only a small part is on permanent display,...
. With his colleagues from the museum he organized an exhibition in 1964, after which the director of the museum was fired and all the participants forced to resign. In 1967 he co-authored with philosopher Vladimir Ivanov a treatise called "Metaphysical Synthesism", which laid out his artistic principles, and created the "St. Petersburg Group" of artists . In 1971 he was exiled from 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....
for failing to conform to Socialist Realism
Socialist realism
Socialist realism is a style of realistic art which was developed in the Soviet Union and became a dominant style in other communist countries. Socialist realism is a teleologically-oriented style having its purpose the furtherance of the goals of socialism and communism...
norms.
He settled in France and he published Apollon-77, an almanac of post-Stalinist art, poetry, and photography. He moved to New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1981.
His work often features the surreal grotesque, portraying the world as a colourful carnival
Carnival
Carnaval is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February. Carnaval typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, mask and public street party...
.
Chemiakin, though Russian-born, signs all his works with his French name, “M. Chemiakine.” The placement of his signature varies from canvas to canvas: either in the lower right or lower left corners, though always on the bottom of the canvas. The titles of his pieces, however, are always in Russian.
In 2001, commissioned by the City of Moscow, he created a monument "Children are the Victims of Adult Vices", a powerful group of sculptures in a park 2000 feet south of the Kremlin, behind the British Ambassador's residence.
The Nutcracker
The Nutcracker is a two-act ballet, originally choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov with a score by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The libretto is adapted from E.T.A. Hoffmann's story "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King". It was given its première at the Mariinsky Theatre in St...
, which proved controversial (in it, the heroine Masha and the Nutcracker Prince, now married, are presumably killed by being turned into dolls atop a wedding cake at the end, with rats nibbling at the cake and rapidly approaching the top). The Mariinsky also produces the highly popular and more traditional 1934 Vasily Vainonen production of the ballet.
In 2011, he stated during his meeting with Russian prime Minister 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...
in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
that he (Chemiakin) has many projects in the works, such as a center for the artists of the North Caucasus in France ; that reflect their culture, in addition, he said that he had finished the sculpture of E. T. A. Hoffmann.
Further reading
- Mihail Chemiakin; Vol. 1: Russian Period, Paris Period; Vol. 2: Transformations, New York Period, 1986 by Mihail Chemiakin, Mosaic Press, NY, 1986.. ISBN 0-88962-327-9
- M. Chemiakin: A View of the Artist Through the Media, 1962-1999, by Ilya Bass and Alan Lamb, Woollyfish Imprints, 2000. ISBN 0-9705728-0-8
- Staging the Nutcracker, by Mihail Chemiakin, Rizzoli, 2001. ISBN 0-8478-2346-6