Winner of the Presidential Prize for Young Cultural Workers Alexey Kryukov spoke about his dream

According to the tradition that has developed over the past 14 years, Cultural Worker’s Day is celebrated by presenting an award to young talents. A select few are chosen from more than a dozen nominees. This year life has made its own adjustments. Due to national mourning for those killed in the attack, the ceremony was moved forward a day. “MK” spoke with one of the laureates – the artist Alexei Kryukov, who worked on the painting of churches and created a cycle about Donbass.

This year, 12 people applied for the award. As presidential adviser Vladimir Tolstoy explained: “the main criterion is talent and dedication to one’s work.” As a result, it fell on Mengi Ondar, deputy director of the K.B. Ondar Center for the Development of Tuvan Traditional Culture and Crafts, who will receive an award for her contribution to the preservation, development and popularization of the cultural heritage of the Tuvan people. She devoted more than ten years to the revival of traditional storytelling art. Mengi collected Tuvan folk songs and folklore into electronic databases, making them available to everyone interested, and under her leadership a series of five full-length documentaries about the folk artists of Tuva was created.

Another award and along with it 5 million rubles was received by cellist Alexander Ramm – for his contribution to the development of domestic musical art and educational activities. He has been performing since he was 9 years old. Managed to become the winner of many Russian and international competitions.

There is also an artist among the laureates – Alexey Kryukov is awarded for his contribution to the preservation and development of the traditions of the Russian realistic art school. “MK” talked with a graduate of the Russian Academy of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture Ilya Glazunov, famous for his participation in the reconstruction of the interior decoration of the “Holy Trinity” in the village of Grinevo (Pogarsky district of the Bryansk region) and a pictorial cycle about Novorossiya, before the ceremony.

– Alexey, congratulations! What do you think were awarded for what?

– In total. But, probably, more for the Donetsk and Lugansk topics.

– Did you paint there from life?

– Yes, my first creative trip took place in 2015. I was immediately inspired by this idea because I had relatives who lived there. I spent a year looking for an opportunity to get there and finally got lucky. It turned out to be Debaltsevo, living with the militia. These were all ideological people, mostly local people. I was looking for images. He made studies, sketches, and sketched impressions. Already in Moscow, in the workshop, he turned it into large canvases.

– How many times have you gone there?

– Six times.

– You also paint temples. Which ones did you work in?

– Painted five temples. I worked in an artel of artists – it was a collective work. He took part in the painting of the Temple of the Armed Forces in Kubinka based on the sketches of Vasily Nesterenko. The canvas is called “The Resurrection of Christ” – 4 by 7 meters. For two and a half years I worked in the Arkhangelsk region in the Cathedral, and there are a thousand square meters, it’s like the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. We painted the dome, the drum, the sails there, and created wall compositions. It turned out to be a very large-scale project.

– Haven’t they painted churches in Donbass?

– I haven’t had a chance yet. But I hope so. Conversations are ongoing.

– How many works are in the Donbass cycle?

– More than 30 paintings, including natural ones. I came to the battalion to see Prilepin – there he also drew from life. Zahara wrote. One of his printed portraits is in the Museum of Contemporary History of Russia, and a painting was given to him.

– Is there any big creative idea? Dream?

I would like to paint a picture that will become a symbol of Victory, in which there will be a unifying spirit. I see it as a monumental plot composition. I would first of all show it in Donetsk, because that’s where it all began.

At the same time, on March 26, winners in the field of literature and art for works for children and youth will receive the Presidential Prize from the hands of the head of state. This is Nikolai Didenko, president of the White Steamship Foundation for supporting creatively gifted children and youth, for creating the White Steamship charity festival for children;

Konstantin Kirillov, director of the state autonomous cultural institution “Ryazan State Regional Puppet Theater” – for his contribution to the development of domestic theatrical art; and Marina Leonova, acting rector of the federal state budgetary educational institution of higher education “Moscow State Academy of Choreography”, – for her contribution to the preservation and development of the traditions of domestic choreographic education.