March 30, 2011

On PBS next week: Desert of Forbidden Art

"These works are a physical expression of a collective vision that could not be destroyed."

The words of Igor Savitsky, a man who single-handedly saved over 40,000 works of avant-garde Soviet art by hiding them in plain sight. Well, in plain sight in a completely out of the way museum in Nukus, Karakalpakstan (Uzbekistan).

"I found these paintings rolled up under the beds of old widows, buried in family trash, in dark corners of artists' studios, sometimes even patching a hole in the roof. I ended up with a collection that no one in the Soviet Union would dare to exhibit."

– Igor Savitsky

Savitsky's story is one of amazing determination and singular vision, of a man completely obsessed with his work, denying all other things, including his health (which lead to his early death). He traveled all over the Soviet Union, gathering up hidden, forgotten, forbidden works of art, and promised to pay widows and children, artists and collectors, if only they gave him their works for safekeeping at his museum. Savitsky's work brought to light artists whose legacy might have otherwise disappeared into a black hole of obscurity, because they did not fit within the bounds of officially sanctioned Socialist Realism. Artists like Volkov, Kurzin, Borovaya, Rybnikov and Korovay, all profiled in this wonderful documentary, might never otherwise have been known.

The interviews and film clips of Savitsky, of the museum, interviews with the current director, etc. make this a beautiful, engaging documentary. But the images of the paintings themselves are just breathtaking. The brilliant, vibrant colors, the fascinating melding of styles from the East and from the West (oriental miniaturism with icon painting with Impressionism), are not to be missed. And, barring a trip to Nukus, this may be the only way you see them. Because the museum, despite being financially strapped, has refused to sell off any of its works to finance ongoing operations, because they know it would not stop there, that the sell-off would be used to buy tractors and medical supplies...

Be sure to catch this excellent work on Independent Lens, next Tuesday (April 5). But check local listings as times may vary. For more information, check out the PBS page for the film.

p.s. This just in: a NYT article reports that the museum is again facing political censorship issues.

Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of Our Books

The Samovar Murders

The murder of a poet is always more than a murder. When a famous writer is brutally stabbed on the campus of Moscow’s Lumumba University, the son of a recently deposed African president confesses, and the case assumes political implications that no one wants any part of.

The Latchkey Murders

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin is back on the case in this prequel to the popular mystery Murder at the Dacha, in which a serial killer is on the loose in Khrushchev’s Moscow...

White Magic

The thirteen tales in this volume – all written by Russian émigrés, writers who fled their native country in the early twentieth century – contain a fair dose of magic and mysticism, of terror and the supernatural. There are Petersburg revenants, grief-stricken avengers, Lithuanian vampires, flying skeletons, murders and duels, and even a ghostly Edgar Allen Poe.

The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas

This exciting new trilogy by a Russian author – who has been compared to Orhan Pamuk and Umberto Eco – vividly recreates a lost world, yet its passions and characters are entirely relevant to the present day. Full of mystery, memorable characters, and non-stop adventure, The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas is a must read for lovers of historical fiction and international thrillers.

Life Stories: Original Fiction By Russian Authors

The Life Stories collection is a nice introduction to contemporary Russian fiction: many of the 19 authors featured here have won major Russian literary prizes and/or become bestsellers. These are life-affirming stories of love, family, hope, rebirth, mystery and imagination, masterfully translated by some of the best Russian-English translators working today. The selections reassert the power of Russian literature to affect readers of all cultures in profound and lasting ways. Best of all, 100% of the profits from the sale of this book are going to benefit Russian hospice—not-for-profit care for fellow human beings who are nearing the end of their own life stories.

Resilience ~ The Russian Version (Переживем)

Call it resilience, grit, or just perseverance – it takes a special sort of person to have survived the last 100 years of Russian and Soviet history.

Murder and the Muse

KGB Chief Andropov has tapped Matyushkin to solve a brazen jewel heist from Picasso’s wife at the posh Metropole Hotel. But when the case bleeds over into murder, machinations, and international intrigue, not everyone is eager to see where the clues might lead.

Woe From Wit (bilingual)

One of the most famous works of Russian literature, the four-act comedy in verse Woe from Wit skewers staid, nineteenth century Russian society, and it positively teems with “winged phrases” that are essential colloquialisms for students of Russian and Russian culture.

Fearful Majesty

This acclaimed biography of one of Russia’s most important and tyrannical rulers is not only a rich, readable biography, it is also surprisingly timely, revealing how many of the issues Russia faces today have their roots in Ivan’s reign.

At the Circus (bilingual)

This wonderful novella by Alexander Kuprin tells the story of the wrestler Arbuzov and his battle against a renowned American wrestler. Rich in detail and characterization, At the Circus brims with excitement and life. You can smell the sawdust in the big top, see the vivid and colorful characters, sense the tension build as Arbuzov readies to face off against the American.

Far & Away ~ Tales from Rural Russia

33 original stories about modern (and not so modern) life in rural Russia.

Fish: A History of One Migration

This mesmerizing novel from one of Russia’s most important modern authors traces the life journey of a selfless Russian everywoman. In the wake of the Soviet breakup, inexorable forces drag Vera across the breadth of the Russian empire. Facing a relentless onslaught of human and social trials, she swims against the current of life, countering adversity and pain with compassion and hope, in many ways personifying Mother Russia’s torment and resilience amid the Soviet disintegration.