Person / Boris Smelov
Yekaterina Kurbanova: Creative work of Boris inf luenced his
contemporaries and followers, however, you were his only
one student. Why did it happen?
Mariya Snigirevskaya: I started studying photography
with him from the age of 12. I had to pull out information
from him like with pincers, because he could not stand
teaching. And somehow it turned out that there were no
more people who wanted to study. Those who wanted
to learn the technique of photo shooting went to special
institutions or took lessons from other photographers.
There was an exchange of experience, of course. You can
teach someone only technology, and then everything
depends on the abilities the person has. And the result can
be achieved only if you are constantly together.
Yekaterina Kurbanova: Mariya, a connection with the
creative work of Boris is seen in your works…
Mariya Snigirevskaya: Certainly, Boris was my teacher,
however, in order to do something new, it was necessary
to «bud off» from the teacher. Something you like sprouts
somewhere inside. And this is a very interesting process,
while it is important to preserve the roots. A combination
of passion for painting and photography help me in my
work.
Yekaterina Kurbanova: How do you assess the state of the
photography now? Maybe you have your favorite masters of
photography and painting?
Mariya Snigirevskaya: Actually, I do not like much from
modern works, but this is normal. I do not see everything,
and there is no time to go and see everything. As for color,
I like Georgy Pinkhasov and Boris Saveliev.
If we talk about world names, I’m impressed by the
works by Josef Sudek, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Ansel Adams,
André Kertes. I have many favorite artists. These are, of
course, my mother — Zhilina Nataliya, Arefyev’s circle,
Van Gogh, Giorgio Morandi, Giovanni Bellini, Edward
Boris Smelov. Spring hunt for frogs. 1994
Hopper and many others.
Yekaterina Kurbanova: Where the admirers of creative work
Yekaterina Kurbanova: However, despite the discrepancy of of Boris can buy his works?
this concept, works by Boris found their admirers both among Mariya Snigirevskaya: Works by Boris and by me are sold
compatriots and among foreign collectors. How did they in Frolov Gallery in Moscow.
learn about him in the West?
On January 18, 2018 in the General Staff of the State
Mariya Snigirevskaya: After Perestroika they immediately Hermitage the exposition «Boris Smelov» opened
became interested in our photographers and artists. presenting twenty works by the photographer from the
Foreign collectors used to come here in droves, buying up Hermitage collection donated to the museum by collector
painting and photography. We got to the famous collection N. N. Gordeev in 2015.
of Norton Dodge. He sent agents all over Russia. Everyone
was wondering what was happening in the country after
Text by: Ekaterina Kurbanova
the Iron Curtain fell. Well, the money was still different.
Photo by: Boris Smelov
Photographers closely communicated with each other,
rumors were passed from mouth to mouth. Those who
knew us, brought the buyers to our home.
With Moscow photographers Boris also visited America
where their works were bought by serious galleries. He really
liked that his creative work found a response, including in
terms of money.
Now the West buys less, because Russia has become the
same country as all the rest.
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