On June 30, 2008, Mikhail Shemyakin, the eminent Russian artist, in the framework of his visit to Minsk visited National Library of Belarus.
The artist made a Library tour during which Lyudmila Kiryukhina, the Deputy Director for library science and public relations acquainted the guest with the history and resources of the Library, as well as a unique architecture and design of the Library building. Fyodor Yastreb, the head of exhibition organizing department acquainted the artist with the Library art galleries and told him about the opening of the First Minsk International Biennale "COLORFEST” which recently took place in the NLB. In the Museum of a Book Mikhail Shemyakin made an entry to the Guests of Honor’s Book.
Mikhail Shemyakin is a sculptor, theatre designer, painter, graphic artist, penman, ex-libris artist, book illustrator, historian, and art researcher. He is a member of New York Academy of Sciences, doctor of arts of several universities and academies of the USA and Europe, knight of “The Ordre des Arts et des Lettres” (France), and laureate of the State Prize of the Russian Federation (1993).
Carnival is the main subject of the artist’s works which combine elements of symbolism and surrealism. Particular motives formed long-term cycles (“Carnivals of St.-Petersburg”, “The Belly of Paris”, and others). The most popular is a cycle of satirical drawings by Mikhail Shemyakin inspired by the poetry of his friend Vladimir Vysotsky.
Mikhail Shemyakin is the author of several monumental works: a tragic and grotesque Peter the Great monument in the Petropavlovskaya fortress, monument to victims of political repressions opposite the St.-Petersburg prison, sculpture “Children and Evil” in Moscow, and others. Besides that, Mikhail Shemyakin is a production designer of ballets “The Nutcracker” and “Princess Pirlipat” in Mariinsky theatre (St.-Petersburg).
Works by the artist are kept in the biggest museums and private collections in Russia, Europe, the USA, and other countries. Sculptures made by Mikhail Shemyakin are placed in many cities all over the world. Personal exhibitions by Mikhail Shemyakin take place annually in various countries.
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