Tandem of inspiration

The book-illustrative exhibition "Tandem of Inspiration" is on show in the Fine Arts Reading Room (room 306) from January 15 to February 22. The exhibition dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the birth of Belarusian artists Georgy Poplavsky (1931-2017) and Natalia Nikolaevna Poplavskaya (1931).

Time passes inexorably, but not without a trace. Descendants will know about him from books and paintings. The works by Poplavsky are among the monuments of our time and reflect life with its joys, sorrows, dreams.

The work of the Belarusian painter, graphic artist, illustrator Georgy Poplavsky is a vivid and unique phenomenon in the national artistic culture. As an artist, Poplavsky was formed in the atmosphere of the sixties and forever remained faithful to true art, open to the anxieties and hopes of his time. The pathos and poetics of that generation left a deep imprint on the way of life, thoughts and feelings of the master, on all his work.

The artist's world is rich, diverse and indivisible. As soon as he heard the call of the muse of distant wanderings, Poplavsky broke away from his habitable places. He saw Cuba, Australia, Mexico, Singapore, India and other countries, sailed as a sailor to the Atlantic and the Caribbean, and crossed the Arctic on ore carriers. Pages of these travels can be seen in albums with his paintings and graphics.

Especially sincere works by Georgy Poplavsky were born in a village workshop in the Braslav region. The artist's connection with the Belarusian land, its history, culture, literary traditions, and folk art is deep and organic. The section of the exposition dedicated to Belarus includes lyrical landscapes of the native land, portraits of people, pictures of their working life with its poetry and prose. A special place is given to book illustrations. With extraordinary trepidation, Poplavsky embodied the lines of Yanka Kupala and Yakub Kolas in the graphic works presented at the exhibition.

The character of Natalia Poplavskaya's creative handwriting was formed under the influence of Belarusian folklore. The appeal to the traditions of national culture, interest in history, ethnography and folklore are reflected in the vivid metaphor, the special warmth of the image, the emotional richness of artistic images. Natalia Poplavskaya has created illustrations for many Belarusian fairy tales, as well as children's books. The famous lithographs "Dedok", "Golden Apple Tree" and other works of the artist are endowed with a special charm.

The exposition to a large extent reflects the significant contribution that the artist made to the development of the Belarusian fine arts. Their names symbolize a high level of craftsmanship, individual style, as well as a family creative "clan" where a new generation of graphic artists is growing. In total, over 60 documents are on display, including originals of works signed by artists.

For more info: (+375 44) 293 27 53.