In case of Anatoli Strahhov is often mentioned the depiction of harmonious dream worlds that constantly searches in the manner of romantics timeless beauty, not dependant on the human culture.
Anatoli Strahhov (born in 1946) was born in the
Ukraine and in 1967 graduated from the Zhinvali Art School in Georgia,
South-Ossetia. Wanting to gain more freedom for creation and better
information of the changes in the Western art, Strahhov came to Estonia in the
1970ies and in 1971 took up studies in the Estonian State Art Institute.
At around the same period learned or worked in the same school also other
Russian-origin artists as Nikolai Kormashov, Slava Semerikov, Vladislav
Stanishevski, Valeri Lauri, who have now integrated into the Estonian artistic
landscape and also have found here recognition. In the year 1973 moved to
Tallinn internationally known Volodimir Makarenko, who is currently residing in
Paris. Art specialist Mai Levin can see first of all the influence of
Volodimir Makarenko, whose example helped in the 1970ies to so-called determine
themselves several Russian and Russian-speaking artists. Since mid-1970ies
Strahhov started to participate in the local group exhibitions, becoming quickly
famous thanks to his original and easily recognisable \"Strahhov-style\"
handwriting.
Similarily to several already mentioned Russian
artists, having studied in the ESAI, also Strahhov has received considerable
influence from Paris. French elegance and suppleness of form are reflected in
the works of the body of friends quite differently from those having studied in
Pallas. Here we can find escapist retreat from everyday life and emphasizing of
aesthetic-poetic values, as Mai Levin has marked it. Often are connected erotics
and religious thematics, which gets a romantic-mythological shade in the subtle
surface and colour handling of the painting. Both Strahhov and the whole group
is characterized by a Baroque-style exuberant handwriting, possessing the
Slavonic sense of images that gives the pictures a highly poetical and
metaphorical general impression. Painters\' examples lie in addition to the
French art also in the iconography of Byelorussia and pre-Reneissance painting
that can first of all be seen in the endeavour to depict holyness through
painting style, which aspires to reach unearthly traits.
In case of Anatoli Strahhov is often mentioned the depiction of harmonious
dream worlds that constantly searches in the manner of romantics timeless
beauty, not dependant on the human culture. The artist continues the research of
his favourite topics in paintings, having been painted mainly in this year:
mythological and timeless essence of things and people. On his pictures female
nudes are symbols that carry a message of the existence of charming beauty,
charged with religion. Still, Strahhov does not try to get directly into the
heart of mysticism and poetry - instead he reflects. In the nudes the figures
often glow through each other or twine with each other in a dream-like mood.
Also the landscapes do not depict concrete places, but are concentrated on
depicting of ideal landscapes of fantastic texture. The delightful mood of
Strahhov\'s works seems at the first glance to be restrained, but instead carries
in itself a powerful message. While being emotional in a Slavonic manner,
Strahhov constantly seems to be aspiring towards unreachable eternal harmony.
With the exhibition Reflections he gets quite close to
it.