“Fortress Vladivostok”: a return to half a century ago

The Center for Contemporary Art "Artage" invites guests to an exhibition of works by Pavel Kuyantsev [ https://visit-primorye.ru/events/vladivostok/vystavka-krepost-vladivostok/] . Watercolors of the captain, dedicated to the beauty of the Vladivostok fortress, are provided by the Museum-Reserve of the History of the Far East named after V.K. Arsenyev. Pavel Kuyantsev is known as a captain artist, in whose work there are several consistently developed themes related to the sea, ships, Vladivostok. Interest in the theme of the fortress arose in the 1970s, when Pavel Kuyantsev retired. Thus, a series of works appeared that have not only artistic but also historical value. In a realistic manner with exact reproduction of details, forts, caponiers, concrete shelters, redoubts, shelters, barracks, loopholes are depicted. According to Kuyantsev’s watercolors, including those presented at the Fortress of Vladivostok exhibition, one can understand the scale and geographical boundaries of the grandiose structure, the construction of which became a glorious page in the history of fortification art. “Unfortunately, time and careless attitude to the objects of the fortress in the past led to the fact that a number of structures are in different preservation. Watercolors made almost 50 years ago give an opportunity to understand how they looked before. In one exhibition space, objects “scattered” on the territory from Russky Island to Sedanka are collected, says senior researcher at the Arsenyev Museum and exhibition curator Olga Zotova. The cycle of watercolors entered the museum collection in 1984. There are 85 today. According to Olga Zotova, after the Federal Museum-Reserve was formed in 2019, a complex of unique defensive structures, built in the late XIX-early XX century in Vladivostok and the surrounding area, began to be paid great attention. And Pavel Kuyantsev’s works have acquired special value. In 2021, twenty of his works were exhibited at the exhibition “Vladivostok Fortress in Pavel Kuyantsev’s Watercolors” at the City Museum. For the 110th anniversary of the artist in 2022, the Primorsky Art Gallery organized an exhibition “I would choose the sea again”, where watercolors on various topics were presented. On the eve of the Year of the Vladivostok Fortress announced to the governors of the Primorsky Territory, the Museum-Reserve of the History of the Far East created a virtual exhibition, presenting the works of Pavel Kuyantsev dedicated to the fortress. The new exhibition, which opened in the Art floor, is another great opportunity to see our heritage, our fortress from a different angle. Through the eyes of an artist in love with the sea, the city of Vladivostok and a fortress built more than a century ago to protect them. The exhibition will last until May 26 at the Artetage Center (Oceansky Prospect, 9). The material and photos were prepared and provided by the press service of the Museum-Reserve of the History of the Far East named after V.K. Arsenyev.