On 27 September, an exhibition of works by Vyacheslav Znatkov, a member of the Union of Artists of Russia, Honorary Artist of the Voronezh Region, was opened in the main building of Voronezh State University. The exhibition is titled “Reviving Traditions”. The talented painter was a teacher and a prominent public figure. He was among the outstanding artists of the 1960–1970s.
Znatkov was not afraid to experiment and worked in many genres: he painted still lifes, landscapes, psychological portraits, and themed paintings. He often chose young people as the characters of his works. During his long and interesting life, Vyacheslav Znatkov created a great number of works and also taught for free young painters who later became members of the Union of Artists. Znatkov’s educational activities were extensive: he taught at the art school of the Berezovsky instructional farm in the Ramonsky District, at the children’s art school in the village of Novaya Usman, and at the art studio of Voronezh school No. 94, and he was one of the founders of the Voronezh Art School. In 2013 he was awarded the title “Honorary Artist of the Voronezh Region”.
VSU Rector Dmitry Endovitsky gave a speech at the opening of the exhibition,
“Today we open an exhibition of a real master, Vyacheslav Znatkov. I was lucky to know him in person. He brought a group of bright and talented young women to the university who were his students and created the LOGOS studio, which later turned into an artistic association. Walking along the university halls, students pause to look at Znatkov’s paintings and start thinking. This triggers a dialogue between the artist and viewers admiring his work.”
Dmitry Endovitsky noted that the painting “Link of centuries” has a special meaning for him as it portrays the main building of VSU. In the middle of the painting we can see the former rector of the university, Vladimir Gusev, surrounded by students, and the outline of the Mitrofanovsky Monastery rising behind them. This, according to the rector, is especially symbolic.
The clergyman of the Uspensky Seminary Church Peter Bakulin attended the opening of the exhibition. He congratulated everyone on the great holiday of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and urged to honour the memory of the artist,
“The works of Vyacheslav Znatkov are filled with humanism and Christianity. The artist always relied on love for his neighbour and shared this love with other people. He is still among us, although invisible, and we can see him in his works. Each of us, contemplating his work, can feel his love and care.”
People’s Artist of the Russian Federation Ekaterina Molodtsova gave a performance. She used to live next door to Vyacheslav Znatkov, and their families were friendly to each other. At the end of the event, the audience enjoyed her singing to the accompaniment of the Honoured Artist of the Voronezh Region Alexey Popov.
The artist’s daughter, Olesya Znatkova, also spoke at the opening of the exhibition. She thanked the exhibition organisers for their reverential attitude to her father’s paintings and recited two poems written by him.
