Uzbek cities that inspired a Russian artist

September 28, 2011

The Central House of Artists in Moscow is housing an exhibition of works by prominent watercolor artist Klavdia Sarafanova-Legat (1911-1989). Dedicated to Uzbekistan, the art show is titled “Samarkand. Bukhara. Khiva. Cities and People” and will run through October 2. The exhibition has been organized by the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Russia, the Fund Forum, Alliance Art Gallery and the International Confederation of Artist Unions.

Inaugurating the exhibition, Masut Fatkulin, the chairman of the Executive Committee of the Confederation and a member of Fund Forum Board of Trustees, noted that this exhibition is particularly important as it coincides with the 20th independence anniversary of Uzbekistan and Sarafanova-Legat’s 100th anniversary.

“Klavdiya Sarafanova-Legat was a Russian artist, who became enamored with Uzbekistan while visiting it. She paid frequent visits to this country, she worked there and found a lot of inspiration there,” he said. “Uzbekistan’s environment, its sun, scenery and friendly and hospitable nation are reflected in the works we can see here today. Therefore I believe this is a big and important event and the large number of people attended it testify my words.”

Klavdiya Sarafanova-Legat, who lived in 1911-1989, lived and worked in Moscow. She studied under prominent artists such as Mashkov and Grabar, who brought her to the culture of fine painting based on natural impressions. It is nature and vivid life impressions that have made up the primary elements of the artist’s creations. Starting 1948, she participated in watercolor competitions in Moscow where she demonstrated her unique panel paintings. Later she mastered complex etching and lithography techniques that help develop accurate hand coordination, understand spot and line ratio. While visiting Central Asia, the Crimea and Murmansk, she produced a multitude of watercolor and gouache works as well as those made in pencil.

Her creations are constructive, featuring articulate images and ideas. She masterfully created images with complex angles and volumes. Just as noteworthy is her sense of light and ability to convey, say, the state of the sunny air in Samarkand and humid sceneries in near-Moscow areas.

It is therefore no wonder that her works have drawn plaudits from her colleagues and specialists. Her artistic legacy continues to attract art enthusiasts by virtue of the artist’s ability to convey in an accurate fashion complex states of nature, her acute sense of light and fine images, which are qualities characteristic of highly professional master.