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St. Andrey Rublyov.
The Trinity.
1420-th.
Tretyakov Art Gallery, Moscow.
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The New City Paper
#5 from february 3, 2000.
Paintings are a state of the soul
This year is really generous in the number of art exhibitions. The cultural palette
of our city has recently enriched itself with new events and new names.
Although the name of Alexander Styazhkin is not really new to Pervouralsk fans
of paintings, he is a regular participant of «Izograf» studios exhibitions.
And this is, finally, his first personal exhibition. It was opened last Saturday
in Novotrubnyi plant's Palace of Culture.
 The Alexaner Styazhkin's exhibition could be divided into three sub-exhibitions. That would be "The city of the passing century", "Landscape" and "Flowers".
There are 113 paintings presented , which were created over the past 8 years. Alexander Styazhkin is
a man of few words, calm, and, as it appears to me, self-motivated. Painting is not a matter of prestige for him, not a self-target but a relaxation for his soul.
Painting for him is a kind of holy grail. There is an air of calm, and peace exhudes from Alexander's painting.
This is a special world, running out of it's own internal laws. There is one ele-
ment that Alexaner Styazhkin can paint like no one else.
It's water, which is absolutely real in every season of the year: in spring it's full of melted snow, water risen from its shores; in summer it is calmly meditated; in autumn it is blossomy. The snow on his paintings is, sort of violet, sprinkled with shadows
or wet and heavy before the spring waters.
The artist doesn't like extremely bright colours, sharp transitions, preferring soft pastel tones. It reflects his state of mind and soul really well in his city landscapes. Alexander paints the city of Pervouralsk, which is dear to his heart, in different seasons and times of day.
He especially succeeded in the triptych "The night city". The air of soft autumn chill exhudes from his "Little backyard". Alexander likes to paint old buildings with their unique aura of passed generations.
That is comfortable, pre-loved old backyards, poplar-trees, that were painted by autumn in "some bewitched colour", sculptured balconies,
and stone vases.
Modern high-rise houses are not a source of inspiration for the artist.
His section "Flowers" is full of quiet charm. The "Begonia" is fire-red on the window, the "First born" are the very first yellow flowers - daffodils, rising from the ground,
like fluffy chicks out of their eggs. The "Bagul'nik"is blossoming gently, by the side of the forest road is an "Old stump", The "Wild rose" is breathing its aroma. "There is God's energy everywhere in nature, that's why everything is interesting to paint" - said Alexaner Styazhkin.
Alexander is sincerely aware of the fact that he is in his learning stage now, because one has to learn at least 20 years to become a master.
Olga Varganova.
Photo: Sergei Batalov.
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