Way of the Artist: Solo Show of Works by the People’s Artist of the Russian Federation, Academician of the Russian Academy of Arts Myud Mechev
On show in the exhibition halls of the Russian Academy of Arts, 21 Prechistenka street, are paintings, graphic works and illustrations to the Gospel by Myud Mechev, the People’s Artist of the Russian Federation, Academician of the Russian Academy of Arts, Laureate of I. Repin State Prize of Russia.
Myud Mechev was born in Moscow in 1929. He is a graduate of S. Stroganov Moscow University of Industrial and Applied Arts. The range of his themes is extremely wide from monumental historic series, Biblical topics to lyric works devoted to the Russian North. The main character of the artist’s work is his native land, its beauty, heroic epic of its past. In his easel series, landscapes, historical engravings, book illustrations Myud Mechev continues the best traditions of Russian art school.
Since 1949, for many years the master has worked in Karelia on illustrations to the Finnish National Epic Kalevala and created several hundreds of watercolors, pen and ink drawings, prints. In 1975 this book illustrated by Myud Mechev came out in the Finnish language, later was trice republished in Russian and Finnish and brought him international fame. In 2009 Myud Mechev became an Honorary Citizen of the Republic of Karelia (Russia).
From 1975 Myud Mechev devoted over 15 years to his work on illustrations to “The Primary Chronicle” (“Tale of Bygone Years”), the first Russian chronicle on the formation of the Russian state and Christianization of Russia. Published in Finland in 1994 this edition entitled “Nestor’s Chronicle” with his illustrations was a major cultural event. At present, in St. Petersburg there is a preparation for publishing the book in color.
The result of the artist’s fifteen years work from 1991 is more than 300 illustrations to books of the Gospel. In 2008, the Gospel illustrated by Myud Mechev was appreciated by the Gold Medal of the Russian Academy of Arts.
More than 100 solo shows of works by Myud Mechev were held in Russia, Finland, Great Britain, Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, Bulgaria and many other countries.
Myud Mechev has been decorated with a Big Silver Medal of the Government of Finland and a medal of Elias Lonnrot, is a Chevalier of the Order of White Rose 1 Rank (Finland). Pope John Paul II awarded the artist a Silver Medal of the Pontificate for humanism and achievements in art.
Works by Myud Mechev are in collections of major museums in Russia and abroad, as well as in collections of the Library of the U.S. National Congress, the Vatican, National Bank of Finland and others.
print version