 | Mon -Thu: from 9 a.m. to 6.15 p.m. |
 | 60 Velyka Perspektyvna St., 25006, Kropyvnytskyi, Ukraine |
 |
The exhibition "Singer of Moldavian Land"
On August 19, 2016 in the regional art museum the exhibition "Singer of Moldavian Land" to the 130th anniversary of the birth of our outstanding compatriot, artist, teacher and Honored Artist of the Moldavian SSR Oleksander Fedorovych Foinytskyi (1886 - 1973) was opened.
The figure of Oleksander Foinytskyi belongs to the cohort of our famous countrymen including brilliant painters whose talent blossomed on the territory of another land, becoming an invaluable gift to it from our Steppe Hellas. He was born on August 23, 1886 in Korliuhivka village of Yelysavethrad region. Studying at the real school in our city, he was one of those who had the great honor to become a disciple of the well-known drawing evening classes, where painting lessons were taught to young Foinytskyi by Feodosii Kozachynskyi himself, a talented artist, teacher and one of the founders of Elysavethrad gallery. Having got basic skills and extra eagerness to fine art from this unique master, Oleksander continued his study of the profession in Odesa Art School and graduates in 1912.
In 1913 Foinytskyi successfully passed exams to the Academy of Arts, but because of a difficult financial situation the promising artist was not able to continue his education in this elite educational institution and was forced to leave St. Petersburg. The fact that at this difficult time Oleksander was invited to teach graphics in schools of Tiraspol city can be considered the gift of fate, because that very city became the artist's second home, giving him a lot of great sceneries and the opportunity to realize his creative potential. Foinytskyi was a teacher of painting and drawing in Tiraspol school, becoming also the founder and director of the local painting and drawing studio. The first significant works of the artist were illustrations for an ABC book and brochures for Moldavian publishing house in 1920’s.
But the important thing is that Oleksander actually becomes a documentalist of that epoch with the help of a simple pencil, carefully reflecting historic changes in city life, new buildings and picturesque nooks of Tiraspol and surrounding towns. The character of his works were often ordinary people, who created a new history of the region with hard and sacrificial work - workers, construction workers, stevedores on the Dnister, teachers and others.
Excellent easel watercolors by Foinytskyi became the chronicle of prewar Tiraspol’s life: "The new residential building in Tiraspol" (1933), "The construction of the theater in Tiraspol" (1935) and others, which, unfortunately, were ruined, along with other works of the artist during the Great Patriotic War in Tiraspol Art Museum destroyed by Nazis.
Fortunately, the war did not extinguish the artist’s creative flame, on the contrary Foinytskyi’s creative work gets a second wind in the postwar period. The artist-chronicler prefers landscape, continuing to document the revival and development of the postwar hometown by means of fine art. The artist strove for creating a synthetic monumental painting of postwar renewal of Transnistria, that is how painting "Snowstorm" (1957) appeared. It reflects the hard and self-sacrificing work of the citizens of the country of that time, and at the same time it is an artistic symbol of its post-war revival.
Landscapes with sceneries of the Dnister river brought recognition to the artist. One of his most famous paintings “Ferry on the Dnister" (1947) is preserved in funds of regional art museum. It shows the audience the panorama of the events unfolding on a berth of the Dnister. All the beauty and original charm of this Moldavian river convey in soft lyrical tones. The artist tried to create an epic story about the renewed Moldova, its hills and valleys, about the wide and deep river Dnister.
However, the creative work of Oleksander Foinytskyi is not limited to landscapes, because he worked actively in other genres of art: portraits, still life, easel graphics.
Foinytskyi created a series of portraits penetrated with his positive energy and cheerful perception of life. A peculiar hallmark of the artist in this genre is "Self-Portrait" (1953), one of his best works, in which the artist captures not only his appearance but also reveals his inner world to the viewer. The artist depicted himself at his easel and with a brush in his hand, that symbolizes the meaning of master’s life, namely the sacrificial service to fine art.
A special place among Foinytskyi’s artworks was always taken by still life painting, besides the artist had a lovely, well-kept garden, which was a real creative laboratory for Oleksander, where he could work for hours. And the colorful, bright, and unique nature of sunny Moldova with its wonderful delicious fruits (just look at that grapes!) gave the artist a lot of interesting material, thus there appeared such pictures as "Still Life. Apricots”, "Grape in the Basket” (1966) and others. Several Foinytskyi’s artworks are dedicated to the blossom of lilac - "Still Life. Lilac” (1961), "Lilac Bush” (1966). He always loved May, when everything around blossoms and flourishes with bright colours.
Moldavian land remembers Oleksander Foinytskyi not only as a talented and optimistic artist-chronicler, but also as an active participant of the establishment of the republican art school, the head of the jury at art exhibitions and a member of the Artists Union of Moldova.
It is pleasant to realize that our countryman’s creative and public activity was appreciated. He was awarded the title of Honored Artist of the Moldavian SSR in 1957, elected an honorary citizen of Tiraspol under the decision of the city in 1968, and in 1975, two years after his death, Tiraspol Art School was named after Oleksander Foinytskyi. Nowadays, the artworks by the artist are preserved in almost all museums of Moldova.
One time an art critic wrote in the outline of the popular art calendar "One hundred memorials" (1986): "The artist and teacher, organizer and activist Oleksander Fedorovych Foinytskyi added a vivid page to the cultural life of Moldova with his creative work”. And it is difficult to disagree with this statement analyzing the creative achievements of the master.
A part of the artist's creative heritage has also become an invaluable part of the stock collection of Kirovohrad Regional Art Museum, which houses more than 30 paintings and graphic works by the artist. They are still lifes, landscapes, battle and genre paintings.
The exhibition "Singer of Moldavian Land” there are represented beautiful paintings that clearly illustrate Oleksander Foinytskyi’s facets of talent: "Moldova Hills" (1953), "Portrait of the Old Man", "Still Life. Apricots”, "Lilac Bush” (1961), "Ferry on the Dnister” (1962), "Dnister Winter”, "Sea” (1962). The exposition was opened near the stationary exhibition "Artists-countrymen", thus becoming its organic complement. In its turn, two works by Oleksander Foinytskyi - famous "Self Portrait" (1953) and Still Life "Flowers" (1963) are included into the exhibition "Artists-countrymen", and which can be considered a logical supplement to the exhibition, dedicated to the memory of the genius artist.
Oleh Yurchenko -- senior research assistant
of Kirovohrad Regional Art Museum
On August 19, 2016 in the regional art museum the exhibition "Singer of Moldavian Land" to the 130th anniversary of the birth of our outstanding compatriot, artist, teacher and Honored Artist of the Moldavian SSR Oleksander Fedorovych Foinytskyi (1886 - 1973) was opened.
The figure of Oleksander Foinytskyi belongs to the cohort of our famous countrymen including brilliant painters whose talent blossomed on the territory of another land, becoming an invaluable gift to it from our Steppe Hellas. He was born on August 23, 1886 in Korliuhivka village of Yelysavethrad region. Studying at the real school in our city, he was one of those who had the great honor to become a disciple of the well-known drawing evening classes, where painting lessons were taught to young Foinytskyi by Feodosii Kozachynskyi himself, a talented artist, teacher and one of the founders of Elysavethrad gallery. Having got basic skills and extra eagerness to fine art from this unique master, Oleksander continued his study of the profession in Odesa Art School and graduates in 1912.
In 1913 Foinytskyi successfully passed exams to the Academy of Arts, but because of a difficult financial situation the promising artist was not able to continue his education in this elite educational institution and was forced to leave St. Petersburg. The fact that at this difficult time Oleksander was invited to teach graphics in schools of Tiraspol city can be considered the gift of fate, because that very city became the artist's second home, giving him a lot of great sceneries and the opportunity to realize his creative potential. Foinytskyi was a teacher of painting and drawing in Tiraspol school, becoming also the founder and director of the local painting and drawing studio. The first significant works of the artist were illustrations for an ABC book and brochures for Moldavian publishing house in 1920’s.
But the important thing is that Oleksander actually becomes a documentalist of that epoch with the help of a simple pencil, carefully reflecting historic changes in city life, new buildings and picturesque nooks of Tiraspol and surrounding towns. The character of his works were often ordinary people, who created a new history of the region with hard and sacrificial work - workers, construction workers, stevedores on the Dnister, teachers and others.
Excellent easel watercolors by Foinytskyi became the chronicle of prewar Tiraspol’s life: "The new residential building in Tiraspol" (1933), "The construction of the theater in Tiraspol" (1935) and others, which, unfortunately, were ruined, along with other works of the artist during the Great Patriotic War in Tiraspol Art Museum destroyed by Nazis.
Fortunately, the war did not extinguish the artist’s creative flame, on the contrary Foinytskyi’s creative work gets a second wind in the postwar period. The artist-chronicler prefers landscape, continuing to document the revival and development of the postwar hometown by means of fine art. The artist strove for creating a synthetic monumental painting of postwar renewal of Transnistria, that is how painting "Snowstorm" (1957) appeared. It reflects the hard and self-sacrificing work of the citizens of the country of that time, and at the same time it is an artistic symbol of its post-war revival.
Landscapes with sceneries of the Dnister river brought recognition to the artist. One of his most famous paintings “Ferry on the Dnister" (1947) is preserved in funds of regional art museum. It shows the audience the panorama of the events unfolding on a berth of the Dnister. All the beauty and original charm of this Moldavian river convey in soft lyrical tones. The artist tried to create an epic story about the renewed Moldova, its hills and valleys, about the wide and deep river Dnister.
However, the creative work of Oleksander Foinytskyi is not limited to landscapes, because he worked actively in other genres of art: portraits, still life, easel graphics.
Foinytskyi created a series of portraits penetrated with his positive energy and cheerful perception of life. A peculiar hallmark of the artist in this genre is "Self-Portrait" (1953), one of his best works, in which the artist captures not only his appearance but also reveals his inner world to the viewer. The artist depicted himself at his easel and with a brush in his hand, that symbolizes the meaning of master’s life, namely the sacrificial service to fine art.
A special place among Foinytskyi’s artworks was always taken by still life painting, besides the artist had a lovely, well-kept garden, which was a real creative laboratory for Oleksander, where he could work for hours. And the colorful, bright, and unique nature of sunny Moldova with its wonderful delicious fruits (just look at that grapes!) gave the artist a lot of interesting material, thus there appeared such pictures as "Still Life. Apricots”, "Grape in the Basket” (1966) and others. Several Foinytskyi’s artworks are dedicated to the blossom of lilac - "Still Life. Lilac” (1961), "Lilac Bush” (1966). He always loved May, when everything around blossoms and flourishes with bright colours.
Moldavian land remembers Oleksander Foinytskyi not only as a talented and optimistic artist-chronicler, but also as an active participant of the establishment of the republican art school, the head of the jury at art exhibitions and a member of the Artists Union of Moldova.
It is pleasant to realize that our countryman’s creative and public activity was appreciated. He was awarded the title of Honored Artist of the Moldavian SSR in 1957, elected an honorary citizen of Tiraspol under the decision of the city in 1968, and in 1975, two years after his death, Tiraspol Art School was named after Oleksander Foinytskyi. Nowadays, the artworks by the artist are preserved in almost all museums of Moldova.
One time an art critic wrote in the outline of the popular art calendar "One hundred memorials" (1986): "The artist and teacher, organizer and activist Oleksander Fedorovych Foinytskyi added a vivid page to the cultural life of Moldova with his creative work”. And it is difficult to disagree with this statement analyzing the creative achievements of the master.
A part of the artist's creative heritage has also become an invaluable part of the stock collection of Kirovohrad Regional Art Museum, which houses more than 30 paintings and graphic works by the artist. They are still lifes, landscapes, battle and genre paintings.
The exhibition "Singer of Moldavian Land” there are represented beautiful paintings that clearly illustrate Oleksander Foinytskyi’s facets of talent: "Moldova Hills" (1953), "Portrait of the Old Man", "Still Life. Apricots”, "Lilac Bush” (1961), "Ferry on the Dnister” (1962), "Dnister Winter”, "Sea” (1962). The exposition was opened near the stationary exhibition "Artists-countrymen", thus becoming its organic complement. In its turn, two works by Oleksander Foinytskyi - famous "Self Portrait" (1953) and Still Life "Flowers" (1963) are included into the exhibition "Artists-countrymen", and which can be considered a logical supplement to the exhibition, dedicated to the memory of the genius artist.
Oleh Yurchenko -- senior research assistant
of Kirovohrad Regional Art Museum
 | Mon -Thu: from 9 a.m. to 6.15 p.m. |
 | 60 Velyka Perspektyvna St., 25006, Kropyvnytskyi, Ukraine |