Exhibition
Information
Born
in Altai, one of Russia's most remote and off-the-beaten-track
towns, Viktor Shvaiko grew up surrounded by the beauty
of the wilderness. His natural inclination for the fine
arts, and his urge to share his vision of nature drove
him to find a way into the Novoaltaisk Artistic School,
one of the best art schools in the former Soviet Union.
Four years of strenuous studies enabled Viktor, a very
diligent student, to acquire the skills of a true artist.
Viktor
credits his teacher, Ilbek Khairoullinov, for a true
fine arts education. Through a strict regiment of
drawing, an intricate technique of using colours,
and the influence of the 19th century Russian artist
Karl Brynllow brought Shvaiko close to a traditional
academic style of painting. After having attained
technical excellence in the manner of these traditional
influences, the artist now possessed the tools with
which to express his feelings to the world. At this
point, Viktor's main focus became the beautiful Altai
landscape.
The
Shvaiko family then moved to Transkarpathia, the western
mountainous portion of Ukraine. There Viktor became
enchanted with the picturesque and breathtaking countryside.
He continued to paint and was invited to show in two
one-person expositions in Moukachevo in 1990 and a
group exhibition in Hungary in 1991.
Shvaiko
chafed under the stifling effect that the lingering
Russian bureaucracy had on the careers of young artists.
Unable to get a visa to a Western country, Viktor
was permitted to travel to Yugoslavia. In the confusion
of the civil war, he fled to Italy with his paintings
strapped to his back, often encountering gunfire from
roving bands of militia.
Having
arrived in Italy virtually penniless, Viktor survived
by selling his paintings on the streets of Rome. He
managed to build a following for himself, and save
some money. He eventually returned to a now more liberalized
Russia, and was able to obtain passage to America.
Arriving
in New York with little money and less English, Viktor
was again able to survive by selling his work. It
was here he developed his penchant for painting the
little cafes and other intimate places that we see
in his work today. These subject matters have become
his trademark. His enticing mix of beauty and mystery
has drawn the interest and admiration of collectors
from around the world.
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