Vladimir impressionist and member of the Union of Artists of the Russian Federation Mikhail Gerasimov spent two weeks in the open air in France, almost without spending money. His paintings hung near the place where Van Gogh painted his “Red Vineyards.” After talking with the artist, we found out that behind the bright sketches there is a struggle with vanity and doubts. And the connection of times helps to choose successful solutions.
“He called me with a question:“ Do you have a passport? Want to plein air to France? Don’t worry about money, ”says Gerasimov. – I quickly got a visa. And only on the eve of departure I began to understand where I was going.”
About six years ago in Suzdal, this man noticed a picture of Mikhail. He liked the work, periodically began to come to visit, communicate. He turned out to be the art director of the world corporation for the production of pipes for oil production. In order for the employees to somehow unload, come up with art projects, support young artists and various art movements.
“And I always wanted to get to those places – the south of France, grape fields, olive groves. Especially when I read about Van Gogh. The desire was to pleiner, impressions to catch.”
Now Gerasimov has only eight sketches left from a trip to France.
Something sold, presented, others – in a foreign land.
Canvases are small and warm colors
DETAIL: An etude differs from more serious work in that it performs one or two tasks well, and all the others go out automatically. For example, Michael appreciates the subtle color states of nature. First of all, he is engaged in such impressions. Shape and depth come later. Therefore, something is crooked, something is disproportionate. The study is always short-term. Gerasimov writes it in 18-20 minutes.
Connection of times
Having reached the estate near the town of Pezenas, Mikhail threw the bag, took a pencil with a notebook and went to make sketches. He and two Yekaterinburg artists were brought here by car from Barcelona.
“I went to Spain, looked out the window and nothing touched me. Well, cool, well, sand. When the mountains crossed and the vineyards in France began, something began to happen to me.”
The owner of the estate, as Mikhail understood, was the son of the director of the corporation. He bought this place, restored it, opened a restaurant and a winery here – albeit in a new building, but made in antiquity.
“Most importantly, they have preserved everything ancient. There is a sense of time,” the artist emphasized.
In the evenings he went far into the fields. The earth is clayey in those places, and at sunset the landscape became like that of Van Gogh in the Red Vineyards.
“When I walked there, I said,“ Vincent, how cool you are! ” They are really red in the sunset! Moreover, the city of Arles, where he opened his earlobe by accident, is 40 kilometers from there. These are precisely those colors and lights. I felt the connection of time.”
Doubt
On the first morning, the artists were given a translator in a new place and were taken to watch the region. On the way back we stopped to buy materials.
“I saw that the guys are buying two canvases per meter. It turned out they are avant-garde artists trained. And I had doubts: “Why did you come here with your little work? You will not be noticed, a miracle won’t happen” And it crushed me all day, prevented me from working.”
Before flying to France, a friend brought Michael to the temple in Zvenigorod. They wanted to see Rublevsky frescoes. But on the ancient sooty walls were relatively new work. Weak and photographic. According to the laws of painting – ugly.
“I felt sick from all this. As if there were written not saints, but the dead. The iconostasis seemed to be a parody of Rublev’s work. I went around several times, there was black painting. I got such a depressing state.”
But then he saw a fragment on the wall. Just two color spots, however genuine, historical. It hooked him.
“After I noticed pieces of the wall cleared to the ceiling. There are such figures! Lively, airy, proportional. I was impressed by these saints! I did not know who they were, the impression itself was important to me. As if I went to the Tretyakov Gallery. I was glad that there was something real under all this modern.”
Until this moment, Mikhail did not really realize what the upcoming trip meant to him. But the sense of time from the frescoes seen put everything in its place. He realized that he did not want to light up, but how to work hard.
“In the evening I remembered this episode. And went into a conversation with myself: “Have you come here to measure forces, earn money? You wanted to work hard. Then work at home, just write. ” And six days, casting aside all thoughts, I worked.”
Exhibition
The organizers arrived. They said that in the end of the open air, there will be an exhibition. It will be combined with the premiere of wine. A cool party was planned for close to the corporation persons. Three sites were given. One in front of the restaurant, the second in the tasting room. At these two points you can light up, sell paintings. The third site was an ancient inactive temple. No motions were planned in it.
“A man who makes up the exposition came up to me. He said: “We decided not to confuse the avant-garde with impressionism. You get the temple” I was disappointed and thought: “The most unfortunate place.” At the same time did not want to argue. I went to the temple and looked.”
This man went with Michael. We went inside. Eyes were not accustomed to the dark, and the artist did not have time to evaluate the room. However, without thinking, he replied that he would leave six works for the exhibition.
“Suddenly, there were exactly six arches between the columns in the temple. I realized: something starts happening. The work is super bright, and the walls are beige. It looked cool. I saw where which one will hang. In which portal. I saw that every work will be illuminated by a spotlight.”
Pictures of Michael are still in France. At least not in Russia for sure. He never saw his exhibition in reality, like two other authors. The party turned out to be secret: it went without artists, they were not even sent photographs.
“I left the temple, and let it go. As if I really was at his exhibition. So satisfied, joyful. I didn’t need anything. We were fine welcomed as relatives. They spared no money to make us feel normal. “I decided that six paintings is not much that I can thank these people.”
Original article: https://kluch.media/materials/40-kilometrov-ot-van-goga-khudozhnik-mikhail-gerasimov-vystavilsya-vo-frantsii/