When Igor Savitsky was working as an artist recording all
the ‘finds’ in the Archaeological Excavations in the desert region of
Uzbekistan in the 1950’s he used all his spare time to paint. However when his
work was quickly dismissed as rubbish by a leading artist back in Moscow he
gave up trying to create art. Luckily for the
world he then developed a keen interest in other peoples art and over the
decades until his death in the 1984, he singlehanded collected forbidden work
by leading artists of the day who had stayed true to their vision at a terrible
personal cost under the oppressive communist regime.
the ‘finds’ in the Archaeological Excavations in the desert region of
Uzbekistan in the 1950’s he used all his spare time to paint. However when his
work was quickly dismissed as rubbish by a leading artist back in Moscow he
gave up trying to create art. Luckily for the
world he then developed a keen interest in other peoples art and over the
decades until his death in the 1984, he singlehanded collected forbidden work
by leading artists of the day who had stayed true to their vision at a terrible
personal cost under the oppressive communist regime.
When the Communists first came into power and demanded
that all ‘comrades’ dressed in utilitarian uniforms, Savitsky went around the
most remote parts of Uzbekistan collecting all the ornate national and regional
costumes and accessories that people were ‘forbidden’ to wear. From there he progressed to collecting art from
all over Russia which he ‘rescued’ from trunks hidden in attics, or as rolled up paintings
tucked away in sheds, and even a couple of canvases that were patching up leaky
roofs. Rather than keep them under the authorities he established a museum in in
Karakalpakstan a remote region of Uzbekistan some 1700 miles from Moscow. He persuaded a local Party Chief to fund him
illegally but the monies he got just paid for the bare bones of the operation and very little money went to the artists who Savitsky had persuaded to hand over
their art.
that all ‘comrades’ dressed in utilitarian uniforms, Savitsky went around the
most remote parts of Uzbekistan collecting all the ornate national and regional
costumes and accessories that people were ‘forbidden’ to wear. From there he progressed to collecting art from
all over Russia which he ‘rescued’ from trunks hidden in attics, or as rolled up paintings
tucked away in sheds, and even a couple of canvases that were patching up leaky
roofs. Rather than keep them under the authorities he established a museum in in
Karakalpakstan a remote region of Uzbekistan some 1700 miles from Moscow. He persuaded a local Party Chief to fund him
illegally but the monies he got just paid for the bare bones of the operation and very little money went to the artists who Savitsky had persuaded to hand over
their art.
With over some 90000 pieces it ended up as the second
most largest and important collection of Russian Avant Garde Art (after The Hermitage), and
the only Gallery where it is shown alongside that of Socialist Realism that the
State encouraged artists to do.
most largest and important collection of Russian Avant Garde Art (after The Hermitage), and
the only Gallery where it is shown alongside that of Socialist Realism that the
State encouraged artists to do.
There is a paradox in the fact this desperately poor
region should be so rich in culture as the collection is now priceless, and in creating this haven of art it is
really turning the clock back to the period when the Silk Road ran through this
corner of Asia and it was a major cultural centre.
region should be so rich in culture as the collection is now priceless, and in creating this haven of art it is
really turning the clock back to the period when the Silk Road ran through this
corner of Asia and it was a major cultural centre.
In 1998 an article in the NY Times alerted the world to
the existence of the museum and suddenly private planes with artists and collectors
arrived to seek out this previously unseen treasure trove of art. Marinika Babanazarova, the Museum’s Director
who had been hand picked by Savitsky, refused to sell any of the pieces even though they, and the whole country is so desperately strapped for cash. There are
bigger threats to the future of the collection especially as the region is right next door
to Afghanistan where the extreme fundamentalist publicly destroyed so many ancient
national treasures.
the existence of the museum and suddenly private planes with artists and collectors
arrived to seek out this previously unseen treasure trove of art. Marinika Babanazarova, the Museum’s Director
who had been hand picked by Savitsky, refused to sell any of the pieces even though they, and the whole country is so desperately strapped for cash. There are
bigger threats to the future of the collection especially as the region is right next door
to Afghanistan where the extreme fundamentalist publicly destroyed so many ancient
national treasures.
This wonderful jaw dropping film took directors
Tchavdar Georgie & Amanda Pope four years to make, and all their painstaking work has now made us aware of their great find. However
the story goes on after the filming stopped mad the Uzbek Government are severely
restricting and closely monitoring Ms. Babanazarova’s activities and forbidding any of
the work to be shown abroad etc, and one can only worry about really lies ahead for the future of
this incredible collection of great masterpieces.
Tchavdar Georgie & Amanda Pope four years to make, and all their painstaking work has now made us aware of their great find. However
the story goes on after the filming stopped mad the Uzbek Government are severely
restricting and closely monitoring Ms. Babanazarova’s activities and forbidding any of
the work to be shown abroad etc, and one can only worry about really lies ahead for the future of
this incredible collection of great masterpieces.
Unmissable film BUT if you have access to a plane then go see the real thing. The museum is open every day, and the nearest Airport is Tashkent.
★★★★★★★★
★★★★★★★★
Labels: documentary
