Before the Wall Fell: Soviet Impressionism October 6, 2011

The Cold War is over. The Soviet Empire has crumbled. University of Toronto professor of psychology, author, lecturer and art collector Dr. Jordan B. Peterson shows pieces from his private collection. The rarely publicly displayed paintings provide a record of a time in a way that was rarely captured in avant-garde art works in the west.

University of Toronto professor of psychology, author and passionate art collector Dr. Jordan B. Peterson showcases a selected series of paintings from his extensive private collection. “Before the Wall Fell: Soviet Impressionism” provides a record of the 20th century rarely captured by similar means in the more experimental and avant-garde art of the west.

The exhibit opens with a public reception on Thursday, October 6 (6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.), in conjunction with the monthly Yorkville Art Gallery Walk, and runs to October 22, 2011 at Leonardo Galleries in Yorkville, Toronto.

Dr. Jordan B. Peterson, who has appeared frequently on TVO shows such as Big Ideas and The Agenda with Steve Paikin states, “In their attempts to advertise the virtues of the collective state, the Soviet Empire kept the traditions of European impressionism and realism alive throughout the 20th century, when formal artistic training in the west was deteriorating. Thus, we have been left with a unique portrait of a deeply troubled utopia. Thoughtful portrayals of individual workers, in a grittier manner than that typical of artists such as Norman Rockwell, alternate with deeply politicized portraits and genre portrayals, serving an explicitly ideological purpose.”

The works presented, ranging in size from the monumental to the miniature, are selected to provide a sample of the formal talent expended in Soviet self-advertising (and the surprising range of its representation). The materials used are oil on canvas, watercolour on cardboard, gouache and mixed-media.

Some featured artists include the following, in brief:

Nikolai Mikhailovich Suetin (1897-1954): Studied at Vitebsk Higher Art School 1918-22. Worked at Lomonosov porcelain factory, Leningrad from 1923 (art director 1932-52); helped design Soviet pavilions international exhibitions in Paris 1937 and New York 1939. Best known as a ceramic artist, graphic artist, critic and art historian.

Kliment Nikolaevich Redko (1897-1956): Studied in art studio of Pechserksaya Lavra, Kiev, 1910-14; at Drawing School of OPKh 1914-18; at Moscow Free Art Studios 1920-22. Developed aesthetic theory of svechinism (Russian word svet – ‘light’) – basic principle: “Light is the highest manifestation of matter.” Painted industrial subjects, landscapes, portraits, 1920s.

Konstantin Mikhailov (1925-199X): Studied at Lugansk (Voroshilovgrad) Art College. Student of O. Filbert and M. Volshtein. Specialized in landscapes. Participant in republican, all-union, international exhibitions. His paintings hang in many museums and private collections.

Victor Pirogov (1923-1993): In 1947 he began studies at the Baku Aziz-Zade Art School. From 1951-57 he was at the Academy of Fine Arts in Kiev. In 1967 he joined the Artists’ Union of the USSR. His works are in museums of Ukraine, Russia, Uzbekistan and many private collections.

A select few works from Dr. Peterson’s collection will include Spanish cubist and Canadian realism.

Jesus Fuertes (1938–2006): A cubist painter. At an early age he was exposed to great artists such as Salvador Dali, Federico Garcia Lorca, Andre Breton, Rafael Alberti, Giorgio Chirico and he later met Pablo Picasso in France. His work was displayed in museums across the world. His first shows were in Berlin and New York and he established a studio in Miami, Florida in 1979.

For more exhibit information visit; http://www.leonardogalleries.com.

Jordan B. Peterson has a B.A. in Political Science and a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Alberta. He received his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from McGill University. Peterson resided in Montreal from 1985-1993, where he studied under the supervision of Dr. Robert O. Pihl and Dr. Maurice Dongier. From 1993-1998 he lived in Arlington, Massachusetts, while teaching and conducting research at Harvard University. He has resided in Toronto since 1998.

As a member of the Yorkville Art Galleries Collective, Leonardo Galleries participates in the free monthly Yorkville Art Gallery Walk, which is held the first Thursday of each month and coincides with exhibition openings.

Leonardo Galleries, Toronto is devoted to the promotion of contemporary art. The gallery represents local and international artists and has a significant collection of works of art in painting, print-media, sculpture and photography. Leonardo Galleries also specializes in conservation framing and expert art restoration.

Official Website: http://www.leonardogalleries.com