Artist Alexander Shilov told how he was looking for a NWO fighter for his new painting

People’s Artist of the USSR, Academician of the Russian Academy of Arts Alexander Shilov completed work on a new portrait of his heroic series. Presenting a picturesque image of the NWO fighter Andrei Kuzovlev, who was awarded two Orders of Courage, Alexander Maksovich talked with the MK correspondent. They talked about the history of the creation of the canvas and where the painter in the realities of the 21st century should look for heroes for his paintings.

Why did you decide to create this portrait? Did you have personal reasons for this?

– Certainly. I have been writing people, I am not afraid of this word, great patriots since the time when I was still studying at the Surikov Institute. My first portrait from this series is of the polar pilot, Hero of the Soviet Union Mikhail Vodopyanov, who saved the Chelyuskinites. He had the star of the Hero of the Soviet Union at number seven. Since then, I have created over fifty paintings and graphic works dedicated to the defenders of the Fatherland. I painted great scouts and legless soldiers: the machine gunner Shorin, who, defending Pskov, lost both legs. Priests who also participated in the Great Patriotic War, for example, Bishop Rodzianko, front-line artists: Evgeny Matveev, Viktor Rozov, Vladimir Etush. All those who, regardless of profession, defended the Fatherland and continue to defend it now: these are military counterintelligence, border guards, employees of the Foreign Intelligence Service … And there is no more holy duty and never will be.

– How did the special operation affect your creative life?

– From the very beginning, I have been giving creative patriotic evenings, speaking at military academies and in the media. I was often asked the question, will I write current fighters? I answered everyone that this is my inner desire to write such a person, because now it is being decided whether Russia will exist or not. Because the West has long dreamed and dreams of destroying our country and taking advantage of its rich resources. Many of our men – real men – went to the front, although there is, of course, a stratum of the population that behaves as if nothing is happening.

– Do you personally know him – with a fighter, whose image was immortalized in paints? How did you find it?

– I went to the military hospital named after Vishnevsky; I was taken to the wards, and I chose the hero of our Fatherland. His name is Andrei Kuzovlev, he has two Orders of Courage. And what amazes me most of all is that he retained such a spirit, which God forbid a person who has never seen battles to have.

In the battles for the Motherland, Andrei lost his arm, but even now, with one arm, he is ready to go to the front “if I come in handy.” When you hear these words, you get goosebumps; he does not pretend, does not scatter beautiful phrases.

— What happened next?

– When I chose him, Andrei agreed to pose for me and said: “This is our common cause.” And everything began to spin, spun: for nine days they brought him to me, and we worked every day. I don’t remember such a long time ago to work with such dedication and with such inspiration.

Look at these amazing courageous eyes – in these eyes is all he is, all his insides, all the horrors of war. Imagine, he said that when he wanted to free his commander from captivity, he was surrounded by a group of enemy soldiers. He knew what he was doing, but he was badly wounded in the lungs, in the stomach, in the neck. A bullet passed in millimeters from the carotid artery. He grabbed his wounded hand, which hung on the skin, and ran to his.

What was his reaction when he saw himself on the canvas?

“Until I finish, I don’t show anyone the work, so he didn’t know how it would be. And when I saw it, I could hardly hold back my tears. He was silent for 15 minutes, shocked by “the depth of feelings that I expressed in his eyes.”

He told me that others, perhaps, deserved more to paint their portrait. I answered him: “You are a real hero.”

But, of course, I will write others. I have already agreed on Yuri Zhulanov, who was recently awarded the Hero of Russia star by Russian President Vladimir Putin. I met him for the second time, he underwent a complex operation on his leg, and the surgeon allowed him to come and pose – fortunately, his leg is healing. Yuri is 24 years old, he is the commander of a rifle platoon, a senior lieutenant, he accomplished a feat, suffered serious injuries, when he comes he smiles. Do you understand what these guys are? Russia is based on such people. On the exploits of these heroes, it is necessary to educate future defenders of the Fatherland! It is a great honor for me to write these great patriots of our Motherland, Russia, and I will continue to do so!

We managed to ask Andrey Kuzovlev a few questions. The answers were striking in their directness and honesty.

Does a person who performs a feat think that he is doing something special, or is he simply doing his duty?

“Just doing his duty. In a war zone, you don’t treat this as a feat, it’s just that there are two categories of people there: some conquer their fear, others don’t.

Was it hard for you to pose?

– I think it was harder to paint a picture, because I posed from four to six hours, and Alexander Maksovich worked from six to eight, if not up to ten. Before me and after.