Константин Пьянов. Знаки. В традиции русской архаики

Konstantin Pyanov. Signs: In the Tradition of Russian Archaic Art

The Luna Gallery from Nizhny Novgorod (curator: Maria Bogdanova) and ANO Constellation of Culture (curator: Ksenia Fedoseeva‑Tsaritsynskaya) are bringing Konstantin Pyanov’s paintings to Moscow audiences.

About the Artist and His Work

“In his art, Konstantin Pyanov gravitates toward the symbolic. The rejection of academic painting is characteristic of the Russian avant‑garde. The brutality of archaic art, introduced by Larionov and Goncharova — their neo‑archaic style — is one of the branches of Russia’s artistic tradition, and it continues to bear fruit to this day.

We can confidently say that the primitivism of the first Russian avant‑garde evolved into the ‘Severe Style’ of the developed socialist period, through a whole constellation of artists such as Pavel Nikonov, Nikolai Andronov, Andrei Vasnetsov, and others.

Siberian artists Andrei Pozdeev and Vladimir Kapelko — whose work Pyanov encountered in his youth — were also ‘naïve’ in their approach. Ancient rock carvings, the harsh nature of Siberia, and a deliberate ‘roughness’ of depiction — ignoring details and reducing everything to silhouettes and signs of things — have taken root and become the essence of Konstantin Pyanov’s art.”

— Oleg Arnautov, Curator at Gallery 13.20

Biography and Career

Konstantin Pyanov has participated in numerous group and solo exhibitions in:

• Nizhny Novgorod;
• Cheboksary;
• Abakan;
• Arzamas;
• Saransk;
• Ryazan;
• Saint Petersburg.

Three solo exhibitions of his work have been held at the Nizhny Novgorod State Art Museum, the most recent taking place at the end of 2023 and beginning of 2024.

Pyanov studied at the Nizhny Novgorod Art School. As a child, he lived in the north, in Dudinka; in his youth, he spent time in southern Siberia — in Minusinsk and Khakassia — where he became passionate about art.

“I first exhibited in 1993 at the Minusinsk Art Gallery, ” the artist recalls. “For me, that date is even more important than any anniversary, because all my friends — who are also my teachers — are the artists of Minusinsk and Abakan. If you look at the first hall, you’ll see petroglyphs. That’s where my creative path began — when I was introduced to rock art in Khakassia. At that moment, I understood what I would do next.”

Pyanov believes that his initial creative impulse came from encountering the art of prehistoric artists.

After returning to his native Nizhny Novgorod, the artist maintained ties with Khakassia, where he regularly visits during summer holidays. For a quarter of a century, he has taught at the Nizhny Novgorod Art School No. 1 during the academic year.

Collections and Recognition

Pyanov’s works are held in the collections of:

• the Nizhny Novgorod Museum;
• the Cheboksary Museum;
• the Minusinsk Museum;
• the State Darwin Museum in Moscow;
• numerous private collections.

Critics describe Konstantin Pyanov as a vivid, original, and temperamental artist who favours:

• impasto painting;
• bold, local colour;
• large formats.

They note the monumentality, archaic power, and freedom of expression in his work, as well as the importance of rhythm within the space of his paintings.

About Gallery 13.20

Gallery 13.20 is a new contemporary art space founded by Mikhail Stenin. It works with contemporary artists and photographers.

The gallery’s inaugural exhibition was the FotoTop art project, titled Apple, which brought together over fifty masters of photographic art.

Exhibition Details

• Title: Konstantin Pyanov. Signs: In the Tradition of Russian Archaic Art
• Vernissage: 22 October at 7 pm.
• Duration: until 5 November.
• Location: Quattro Space (ground floor)
• Address: 13 Myasnitskaya Street, Building 20, Moscow
• Inquiries about purchases: +7 926 233 91 78 (mobile, Telegram)