For Ossetian artist Mikhail Kulumbegov, Moscow became the embodiment of comfort and delicate beauty. Mr Kulumbegov has been living in the city for more than 20 years and believes he is a part of it now. The artist shows us a Moscow kaleidoscope in the light of his own impressions and unique painting techniques. Kulumbegov presents a mosaic of Moscow scenes in romantic silver-blue colors.
Each and every one of the artist’s paintings breathes the harmony and unique beauty of many faces that can be seen only by a true ‘knight of the spirit’ – which is what the artist’s admirers call him.
Moscow is not the only model for Kulumbegov: in 2009 he presented a whole series of works dedicated to the events of the ‘Five-day War’.These paintings demonstrate the ruins of the South Ossetian capital, but the colors here are completely different: bright and sharp. “I’ve been planning this exhibition for a long time," the artist says "I’ve painted South Ossetian panoramas before and after the war. I’ve been to China and now I’m planning to visit European capitals, to paint them and then organize a large exhibition. For now I’m satisfied, as I think I’ve managed to show the world a whole different aspect of South Ossetia”.
Kulumbegov’s works were highly appreciated by Russian Academy of Arts. The Head of the Duma Committee on Foreign affairs, Konstantin Kosachev, said that the exhibition of works depicting South Ossetian events is an important political event as well, as Kulumbergov’s early paintings received high evaluations by the Georgian Academy of Arts – back then no one could imagine that the two peoples, who had always lived side by side, would grow apart.Kulumbergov himself said that he could not have expected this exhibition to become such a success. During the exhibition a lot of works were sold, some of which were to Ossetian residents of Moscow.
Urban landscapes are not the only field the artist has mastered, but art critics presume that these works are the most successful.
Mikhail Kulumbergov graduated from Tskhinvali Art School in 1978 and entered the Tbilisi Academy of Arts. His works were purchased for private collections in the USA, Japan, Germany, France and Italy.
Tengiz Doguzov, Tskhinvali, exclusively to VK.
