Portal Nova

Portal Nova

January 22, 2022

Author Mona Cukich

CULTURE

Kusovac on „The Brilliance of Russian painters“: I survived thanks to Russian emigrants

Art historian Nikola Kusovac spoke for Nova.rs about the exhibition “The Brilliance of Russian painters”, which was opened today at the Vrsac City Museum, emphasizing that this exhibition is one of the ways to repay the Russians for everything they have done for our country and culture in history, especially in the period between two wars.

The exhibition presents for the first time works of art from the private collection of Vladimir Peshich, which includes paintings by artists from Russia, who created in Serbia.

– Vladimir Peshich is a man who loves art, and he is doing on his own something that our state should be doing for the sake of good relations between us and Russia. Between the two wars, they helped Serbia so much when women lost their husbands. The Russians took over everything that was important to us, from medicine, theater, culture and architecture, and they invested in those spheres. In this exhibition, among other things, we talk about the closeness and intertwining of two nations in history and culture – says Kusovac and adds:

– This is very important for Vrsac because next to it is Bela Crkva, place where the Russian cadets were. Vrsac is a very important center because many outstanding officers gathered there and left a serious mark on our culture. Our theaters would not exist if there were no Russians, they are the ones who invested in scenography, directing, all except acting, because of the language barrier.

The eminent art historian points out that the public should pay special attention to the work of Konstantin Konstatinovich Kuznetsov, who once lived and worked in Vrsac.

– We also have here works by Stepan Fedorovich Kolesnikov. It is important to remind the fact that whatever branch of art you touch, you will see how important Russians are to us. Even comics. Did you know that Kuznetsov is the founder of comics and the school of comics in our country, between the wars? Our museums in Belgrade should deal with this important issues much more, because the debt left to us by the Russians is immeasurable. This exhibition means a lot to me personally, because I survived thanks to the Russian emigrant doctors, who treated children for free. They helped and supported our children by all means, and that is why I thank them – says Kusovac.

His collections, among other works, presents a work by Stepan Fedorovich Kolesnikov – his enigmatic portrait of Princess Mafalda of Savoy; then the work “Bogatir Dobrinya Nikitich” by Konstantin Konstatinovich Kuznetsov with a thank-you letter to Olga, Nikola and Beba Tabakovich, signed by the Russian cavalry general Nikolai Nikolayevich Baratov”.

We can also see such works as “Miners” by Kharitonov Nikolai Vasilyevich, then the works of Maikovsky Ippolit Danilovich, Petr Petrovich Sokolov, Alexander Ivanovich Lazhechnikov, Vladimir Pavlovich Zelinsky and Nikolai Krivoshein.

Kusovac adds that the exhibition “The Brilliance of Russian painters” presents the Russian icons from the late 19th and early 20th century, and a special part of exhibition is dedicated to Branislav Maksimovich, grandfather of Vladimir Peshich, who was born in Vrsac. Together with his brothers, in the thirties of the last century, he founded the university quartet „Brothers Maksimovich“.

– Peshich gain his love for art and these works of art as the son of Dusan Peshich, a correspondent of the newspaper “Politika”.  Vladimir lived in Moscow from 1983 to 1997, and he is a member of The International Confederation of Collectors, Antique & Art Dealers of Russia and the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States), CINOA (The International Confederation of Art & Antique Dealer Associations engaged in the conservation, protection and promotion of antiques and art works) and DAS (Society of Antique Dealers of Serbia). He nurtured his love for art from a young age – says Kusovac.

https://nova.rs/kultura/kusovac-o-sjaju-ruskih-slikara-preziveo-sam-zahvaljuci-ruskim-emigrantima/