Aleksander Zakalsky, exhibition “Some more Angkor”

Elena Vrublevskay gallery presents exhibition “More Angkor” of the Moscow artist Alexander Zakalsky .
These series of works was preceded by the author's studying of sculpture decorations of the
famous temple complex Angkor, situated in Cambodia.
Exhibition “More Angkor” is open for visitors from April, 12th to May, 12th.

Ancient capital of Khmer Empire, city-temple Angkor – is one of the main architectural attractions in the South-Eastern region. The construction of this unique in its beauty and size temple complex started in 9th century and lasted for four next centuries. According to one of the versions it stopped when they were run out of sandstone recourses. In 1861, thanks to French naturalist Anri Myuo, European travelers knew about Angkor; after 400 years of oblivion it was discovered anew for civilization.

Religious Angkor and tourist Angkor are known all around the world. Zakalsky suggests the spectators his own city-temple – “More Angkor”. On the paintings one can see cut out of stone faces of ancient deities, who are able to express different soul states. Depending on illumination, time of the day and nature conditions these images transform and Zakalsky manages to reflect these transformations on the canvas. The same sculptures are perceived young and old, sad and joyful. The author's technique adds the works pictorial texture thanks to multilayer colorful surface, having the effect of stone destroyed by nature and time.

Alexander Zakalsky belongs to modern realistic artists' school generation, who made themselves known at the end of nineties. One of the central places in his creativity is portrait painting: the result of the artist's visit to Holland was series of 70ty portraits. Zakalsky participated in more than 30ty exhibitions in Russia, France, Netherlands, including seven personal ones, and also took part in the projects of Alliance of Artists in Chile and Peru.

The characteristic feature of this series “More Angkor” is its portraitness, common to many Zakalsky's works. This composition laconism of huge canvases, when the artist denies minor details and concentrates on the representation of the deity image, allows to reveal the power of the construction art, grandiosity of the structure and cultural scale of the monument. Alexander Zakalsky, like Anri Myuo, rediscovers Angkor for us, creating the new image of the ancient temple.

Awakening, 140x115

Silence, 140x170