YOUNG BELARUSIAN SCULPTOR
IGOR GOLUBEV
interviewed by Valentina Sidorova
  
VS: Igor, how did your interest in sculpture begin?

IG: My father is a painter and sculptor, so when a child I had a chance to see how painting is created. But the real start was my trip to Leningrad where in the art museum my Dad showed me the works of great artists. Even now I cannot forget that impression. It was a miracle for me: the faces on the pictures were like alive. Back home, I tried to paint a portrait myself, striving to make the person look alive.

 
VS: Igor, how did your interest in sculpture begin?
IG: My father is a painter and sculptor, so when a child I had a chance to see how painting is created. But the real start was my trip to Leningrad where in the art museum my Dad showed me the works of great artists. Even now I cannot forget that impression. It was a miracle for me: the faces on the pictures were like alive. Back home, I tried to paint a portrait myself, striving to make the person look alive.

 
VS: How old were you then? Whom did you paint?
IG: I was 14. I practiced a bit and then I copied a portrait by an artist of 19th century. It was my first painting. I still have it.
 
VS: You speak about painting. But now you are known not as a painter but as a sculptor. When did you change your interest?
IG: I did not change my interest. Painting became my obsession once and forever. Since my trip to Leningrad there was no other alternative for me but to enter the Leningrad Academy of Art. I developed a program how to get ready for the entrance exams and was working hard towards them. But when I arrived at Leningrad Art Academy, they didn’t take my documents. "You are from Belarus," they said, "so you should study in your institute in Minsk". There was nothing to do about it, and I went to Minsk. In Minsk they said, "You have an Art Faculty in your native town Vitebsk, so you should study there."I was so upset, I didn’t want to go back home. You know, Vitebsk is a provincial city, rather small city. I believed that the professors of the highest qualification are only in the capital, and I was striving to acquire perfect skills ...In the corridor of the institute one of the staff came up to me and asked, "Why don’t you try sculpture? I saw your works. They look promising..."I tried, and, of course, I failed. Painters and sculptors have different vision, you know. The former has to express oneself using colors and flat surface, the latter uses no colors and has to create a three dimension image. Another thing is: you need to practice a lot before your fingers obey you. You see, but you cannot do...So, I went back home and started getting ready for entering the institute again, and the next year I passed my entrance exams.After all, I think the change was for the better. Since childhood I wanted maximum in everything whatever I was doing. I wanted to do something important, something that will be left after me. And I thought: painting is perishable. But if I make a beautiful sculpture, it will remain forever.
 
VS: How many monuments have you already created?
IG: Among the most important are: monument to Vladimir Korotkevich in Orsha in 1992, to Yazep Drozdovich in Troitskoie in Minsk in 1993 (it was my diploma work), Archangel Michael near the Minsk Red Church 1996, monument to Napoleon Orda will be open this spring in Ivanovo Brest region... There some other monuments and some small scale works too.
 
VS: Well, all the people you have mentioned are personalities, whose names are the history of Belarus. It is such a responsibility...
IG: Yes, I feel the responsibility. Every time I agree to make a monument I read everything I can find about the person. I read until I start feeling the person, until I can see him. The idea that the monument will be placed in the street and thousands of people will see it is always at the back of my mind. I think not twice — I think one hundred times before I make it in metal.The responsibility and understanding that once it is in bronze it will be impossible to change anything has influenced my character. I always think a lot before I do or say anything. I am a responsible person.
 
VS: What is your credo in art and in life?
IG: In art it is beauty and realism. The impression of the first visit to art museum I told you about was so strong, that it practically determined my fate. Later I learned about other trends in art, but my style was already molded. Face is everything for me. You cannot imagine, how many times I changed the face of Archangel Michael, before it got the expression I wanted. It is twice as difficult with monuments to personalities. If you make the face exactly resembling the person, it can be not expressive enough and thus do not appeal to the hearts of the viewers. So, I as a sculptor am always in search of the only right balance between the reality and imagination. I think I can do this. One of members of the jury selecting the project for the monument to Korotkevich was his sister, Natalia Kuchinskaya, and it was she who chose my project. And I want my works to be beautiful. There is so little happiness in our lives... I want people looking at my works to feel elevated, optimistic, encouraged.In life — pretty much the same. I so sensitive... Any injustice, cruelty upsets me so much... I cannot see people shouting at each other, elderly people begging in the streets. If I could, I would fill the world with love and tenderness...
 
VS: This is what you are actually doing. Your works speak for you... What are you doing now and what about your plans?
IG: I have to finish a monument in Orsha. Another one, to Ephrosinia Polotskaia, a celebrated sainted enlightener of Belarus, and if funding is found I shall finalize it. At present I am working for the Red Church in Minsk. When the Church was given back to the believers, it was nearly empty inside. A lot has to be done... But, frankly speaking, to change something in my life. I would like to change the environment. I feel that I need fresh impressions, to meet new people, to see what is being done in other countries. I have a lot of books on art and I think it is high time I go and visit the famous museums, see new trends. Or simply to see how people live, how they work out their problems, how they build their relations, how they spend their leisure time. The ideal for me would be to take an order from another country. I would also like to take a bit of painting for a change (I have already said I never forget about it), or organizing an personal exhibition. In connection with this any suggestions are most welcome.
Valentina Sidorova

         

 

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