"Epiphanies" by Dmitry Sandzhiev Automatic translate

The Russian Academy of Arts presents an exhibition of works by People’s Artist of the Russian Federation, Academician of the Russian Academy of Arts Dmitry Nikitich Sandzhiev “Epiphanies”, opening on the eve of the author’s anniversary. The exhibition will showcase more than a hundred works by one of the leading graphic artists and painters of contemporary Russian art.

The master has a brilliant command of various artistic techniques, which is manifested in impeccable composition and rhythm, complex plastic solutions and subtle harmony of color. In his paintings, paint becomes a precious colored mass with which he fills every centimeter of his work with jewelry. Bizarre ornamentation, color symbolism, plant and animal motifs give the artist’s works a sharp decorativeness and pictorial sophistication. He creates canvases using both traditional and unique proprietary techniques, in which he uses gold leaf, gold leaf, natural stones and crystals. Remaining within the framework of an easel work, he embodies fantasy worlds on canvas and wooden panels, reflecting the harmonious beginning of all things.

The deep associativity and metaphorical nature of Dmitry Sandzhiev’s creativity is based not only on his own life experience, but also on the heritage of past generations that has come down to us from time immemorial. His creations, embodying the ideas of unity and spirituality of the entire universe, are the result of studying the art of the most ancient Eastern and Western civilizations, carefully peering into the general foundations of paganism, Buddhism, Islam, and Christianity. The source of inspiration for the master is often mythology and epic, interpretations of which are combined into such series as “Myths of the Planet” and “Slavic Legends”. Researchers note: “Entering” the cosmic cradle of lines, colors, and rhythms of Dmitry Sandzhiev, you feel how the metaphysical existence of a person is expressed. It is expressed through the great and, perhaps, the main treasure of humanity - mythology. Myths from different times and peoples freely intersect in Sandzhiev’s paintings, not contradicting each other, but, on the contrary, more fully revealing their innermost meaning.” Trying to convey the spirit of our time through images of world culture, he imbues his works with a supply of meanings and associations that do not always directly follow from the real meaning of the plots. The author plunges not only into the mysterious world of the deep past, but also into the otherworldly dimension and depicts it through the prism of his original artistic vision. In the series “Dreams”, “Metamorphoses of the Full Moon”, “Swimming in Time”, the separation of reality and imagination is quite arbitrary; legends, dreams and fiction intertwine and create a single artistic substance. According to art critics, “the exhibition “Epiphany” is a gift to everyone who sees in art a bridge between the temporary and the eternal, the obvious and the secret, the human and the superhuman.”

The text is based on articles by Alexander Lavrin and Alexander Furman; Information Department (press service) of the Russian Academy of Arts

Dmitry Nikitich Sandzhiev was born into the family of sculptor N. A. Sandzhiev, People’s Artist of the RSFSR, Honored Artist of the Kalmyk Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, laureate of the State Prize of the Kalmyk Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic named after O. I. Gorodovikov. In 1970-1974 he studied at the Yaroslavl Art School, which he graduated with honors, in 1975-1981 - at the Moscow Art Institute. V. I. Surikov, where he studied with N. A. Ponomarev, B. A. Uspensky and A. B. Yakushin. He trained at the Creative Workshop of the USSR Academy of Arts under the direction of O. G. Vereisky (1981-1984), and was subsequently appointed head of the Creative Graphics Workshop of the Russian Academy of Arts in Moscow. In 1974-1975 he worked as a graphic designer at the Elista Art and Production Workshops, then in 1987-2000 at the artists’ studio named after. V.V. Vereshchagin Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia. Since 1989 he has organized personal exhibitions in Sweden, and since 1994 he has actively exhibited in Russia. In 1996, the first large personal exhibition was held at the Central House of Artists on Krymsky Val; in 1998, another one was retrospective. His author’s exhibitions were repeatedly held in Austria, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, China and the USA. The master’s easel works are presented in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art, the State Tretyakov Gallery, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the USA, the State Museum of Oriental Art, the National Museum of Kalmykia, as well as in private collections in Russia, France, Germany, the USA, Mongolia, and Bulgaria.