Meeting the artist Yuri Negodaev at the Museum of Fine Arts Named after the Nevzorov Family
A rather short, kind-looking man with a gentle smile, walks through the museum’s halls. The broad-set/stocky figure, shining bald head and blue eyes with a playful spark may reveal a lot about his nature and profession to an expert physiognomist, however to a passerby stranger he would seem like a guest who’s simply admiring the paintings. Yet he’s not just a visitor/viewer, but an artist, and a special one at that!
His name is Yuri Yuryevich Negodaev. He once lived there, studied at the pedagogical institute, painted pictures, and like many young artists of that time, was rebellious. These youth broke shapes. played with color, and brought forth a new, «their own» philosophy into the light. They were all young and energetic, eager to let the world hear their voices. Yuri Negodaev was one of them. But now, for more than a few decades, the artist has been living far from his homeland, in Vladimir, an old city in Russia. Although he is not pleased about it, he has changed a lot since then.
Yuri Yuryevich believes that artists cannot change. A true artist must be constant at revealing truths to people. Only this way. The search for oneself, for «one’s own path,» is a form of pride. «The path of every person is service,» Yuri Yuryevich said in a conversation with the staff of our museum. He said it simply, sincerely, and modestly. He spoke in a way that made everyone believe it and reflect on themselves. «Can I serve people? Just like that, without expecting anything in return?» And this question turned out to be difficult.
Yuri Negodaev is an amazing dialog partner. His vast knowledge, which he is always ready to share, deep understanding of human nature, and sincere dedication to creativity, combined with a unique artistic intuition, make him a talented artist and educator. He works not only with his students, but also eagerly engages in creative intellectual conversations with anyone interested in art. At our museum, he found grateful listeners. His appearance here was not a coincidence. In these hot august days, thirty years after his departure, Yuri Yuryevich finally revisited his hometown and, of course, couldn’t miss the chance to drop by the museum. This place and Yuri are bonded with long history and in-depth friendship.
Two creative meetings and long discussions about the essence of art in general and his work in particular became a true revelation for the museum staff. Yuri Yuryevich’s personality is rich and complete. He has clear spiritual guidelines and a firm stance in his own philosophy. In the early period of his work, while operating abstract forms and breaking standard geometric proportions of real nature, he introduced the generalized or universal images without stepping outside the strict boundaries he set for himself. He subordinates his art to the laws of «formal composition,» where intuition, imagination, and sometimes subconsciousness perform in harmony with compositional rules and color harmony. «Looks as if I didn’t create this,» the artist says about one of his works. His current works can no longer be called abstract. They represent realism; however, according to the artist himself, it is «existential» realism which is also governed by the laws of formal composition, or rather, as the master puts it, «formally-compositional intuition».
The artist has departed. What remains are impressions and quotes taken down discreetly during our conversations:
«The path of every person is service, to be humane, and an individual.»
«The philosophy of contemporary art is to provoke and shock. But I have set boundaries of morality for myself that I do not cross.»
«Art should not be based on egoism, but on humanity.»
«The concept of universal brotherhood is my motto.»
«A painting, as a separate entity, as a separate world — is intrinsically valuable.»
The essence of the conversations, filled with profound thoughts and spiritual revelations that Yuri Yuryevich Negodaev brings to people, will linger in the minds of all participants for a long time. Yet, he may not even realize that out of his humbleness.
