The work of sculptor Dasha Namdakov (b. 1967) is connected with the origins of folk Buryat culture, historical legends about epic heroes Mongolian people, with legends and parables of Buddhism. But the works of the author from Transbaikalia are also distinguished by academically correct plasticity, capacity and expressiveness of images, and precise drawing of movements.
Of particular interest in the work of Dashi Namdakov are his compositions “Khanshaim” (Kazakhstan), “Golden Shoria” (Kemerovo region), “Kazan” (Tatarstan), “Royal Hunt” (Republic of Tyva), dedicated to traditional cultures peoples of these regions. The subjects of the monumental sculptures are mythological, the style of execution is also based on the plastic techniques of the past, but the internal energy of the images, filling with epic symbolism makes these works important cultural sites large geographical areas.
The last years of Dasha’s creativity are associated with the search for new expressive means. Having been influenced contemporary art, the author tries to express his worldview through the expression of form, introducing color into the art of bronze sculpture. This is how a series of fantasy characters, magical and mysterious images appeared, working in space in a special dynamic way.
Dashi Namdakov - People's Artist of Buryatia, corresponding member. RAH, member Russian Academy cinematography, honorary member of the Florence Academy of Drawing Arts, laureate of the Russian Government Prize - has a great creative experience, but is constantly looking for new methods of realizing his talent, passed on to him by generations of masters of the steppe Buryatia - one of the most noticeable in modern cultural space regions of multinational Russia.
The exhibition was prepared with the support of the official project partner ROSATOM State Corporation
June 7, 2019 at the museum " New Jerusalem» the exhibition “The Art of Dasha Namdakov” will open. The exhibition will be shown in the Moscow region immediately after its demonstration in the Mikhailovsky Castle of the State Russian Museum, where it was successfully held at the end of 2018 - beginning of 2019.
An exhibition of works by the famous Russian master in the halls of the Moscow Region Museum and Exhibition Complex “New Jerusalem” will open at several sites: landscape sculptures will be placed in the atrium space, program works will be placed in the common area of the first and second floors, only then the viewer will see a retrospective in the exhibition halls easel sculptures author. The exhibition will feature 33 works by the master.
The work of sculptor Dashi Namdakov (born 1967), corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Arts, People's Artist of Buryatia, laureate of the Russian Government Prize, is connected with the origins of folk Buryat culture, historical legends about the epic heroes of the Mongolian people, with the legends and parables of Buddhism. But the works of the author from Transbaikalia are distinguished by academically correct plasticity, capacity and expressiveness of images, accurate drawing of the characters’ movements, which is the result vocational training and training at the State Krasnoyarsk Art Institute (workshop of the sculptor academician L.N. Golovnitsky).
The young sculptor’s first exhibitions took place in the early 2000s; he was accepted into the Irkutsk branch of the Union of Artists of Russia in 2001, immediately becoming a new notable phenomenon in the art of the Baikal region, and then at exhibitions in St. Petersburg and Moscow, where he was awarded Silver medal of the Russian Academy of Arts for exhibition activities, and was subsequently accepted as a full member of the Academy of Arts.
Sculptures, graphic sheets (drawings), jewelry collection made in mixed media were received with interest by the audience at the State Tretyakov Gallery, in the State Hermitage and the State Historical Museum, as well as in museums in China, Finland, the USA and Italy, where the master began casting bronze easel and monumental works in the workshops of Pietra Santa since 2009, as well as in London.
Currently, Dasha’s work is associated with the search for new means of expression, the author is influenced by modern world art and tries to express his worldview through the expression of form, adding color to the art of sculpture, creating a series of “fantasy” characters, magical and mysterious images, in a special dynamic way “ working" in space. The subjects of Dasha’s sculptures are “mythological”, the style of execution is based on the plastic techniques of the past, and the internal energy of the images, filled with epic symbolism, makes these works important cultural objects of large geographical areas of our country.
Dashi Namdakov approached the exhibition at the New Jerusalem Museum as a master of sculpture who has extensive creative experience, but is constantly looking for new methods of realizing his talent, passed on to him by generations of master blacksmiths - the “Darkhans” of the steppe Buryatia - one of the most prominent eastern regions in modern times. cultural space of multinational Russia.
The original publication is on the online media website | If you are reading it elsewhere, it may have been stolen.The Sergiev Posad Museum-Reserve and the Dasha Namdakov Art Foundation present an exhibition of the famous Russian sculptor, artist, jeweler, member of the Union of Artists of Russia, People's Artist Buryatia Dashi Namdakov.
Dashi Namdakov was born on February 16, 1967 in the village of Ukurik, Khiloksky district, Chita region. The sculptor's family belongs to ancient family blacksmiths-darkhanov, “darkhate”, from which the best jewelers, craftsmen and artists came out. Only they were allowed to work with fire, a sacred symbol of chosenness. Dasha's father is BalzhanNamdakov, famous folk master- blacksmith and artist.
Dashi studied at the Krasnoyarsk State Art Institute with artists and sculptors L. N. Golovnitsky, Yu. P. Ishkhanov, A. Kh. Boyarlin, E. I. Pakhomov.
Dasha Namdakov’s first personal exhibition was held at the Irkutsk Regional Art Museum named after V.P. Sukachev and was a huge success with the audience. Subsequent numerous exhibitions in museums and galleries in Russia, America, Europe and Asia have already brought him international fame and recognition.
Characteristic for oriental culture the mythopoetic understanding of the world is a source of inspiration for many masters of contemporary art in Buryatia. Appeal to images of the ethnic culture of a huge region Central Asia(Buryatia, Mongolia, China), where for centuries the history and culture of close peoples were intricately intertwined, as well as the subtlest connection with Nature contributed to the formation of the original creativity of Dasha Namdakov.
His graphics are distinguished by fantastic imagery, internal tension and dynamics. Pencil drawing or a drawing with sanguine and sauce attracts with the elegance of the lines and their complex interweavings.
Namdakov’s sculpture amazes with its ingenious embodiment of images in bronze, their impeccable execution, clear silhouettes, decorativeness, exquisite surface treatment, and an absolute sense of material. They are made using artistic casting, forging and mixed techniques.
The works of Dasha Namdakov are kept in the collections State Hermitage, Russian ethnographic museum in St. Petersburg, the Museum of Oriental Art, the Museum of Modern Art in Moscow, in museums in many countries around the world, including the Tibet House (New York) and the Museum of Art (Guangzhou, China), as well as in private collections in Germany, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Finland, Japan, USA, Taiwan. Namdakov’s sculptures decorate the streets and squares of many cities around the world.
The exhibition features 8 sculptures and 10 graphic sheets depicting mythological creatures, whose images have never lost their sacred meaning for the peoples of Asia, as well as characters from the master’s own imaginary world, closely connected with the worldview of his people.
There are often situations in life when some inner voice suggests the right decision. You've probably noticed this. And the tips are indeed always correct if you follow them immediately.
For example, you see a book in a store and immediately understand that there is something essential in it that can enrich your life. inner world and help in knowledge of the external. This is what happened with Dasha’s exhibition – my husband and I simultaneously felt the need to visit it.
Exhibition of Dasha Namdakov in St. Petersburg
The next of Dasha Namdakov’s many exhibitions from December 12, 2018 to March 11, 2019 is taking place in St. Petersburg at the Mikhailovsky Castle. The exhibition occupies 4 halls; 63 creations of the master from private collections are presented here, art museum Irkutsk and from the author’s personal collection: sculptures (mainly), graphics, jewelry, porcelain.
Dashi Namdakov and his graphics
The exhibition was simply amazing, especially Dasha Namdakov’s grotesque vision of the world. His sculptures do not seem frozen, they are full of life, movement, expression, and the mystery of the universe. Here we felt that thin invisible thread connecting a person with the past. You should definitely come to the exhibition and see all the masterpieces with your own eyes.
Royal hunt
Family
Not all of us are lucky enough to be born in creative family, unlike Dasha. He was born on February 16, 1967, the sixth of eight children in a remote Trans-Baikal town of the Chita region - the Buryat village of Ukurik, where every resident professed Buddhism, absorbed with his mother's milk.
And he was born not into a simple family, but into a family of hereditary blacksmiths - darkhans. Blacksmithing and the blacksmiths themselves have long been held in high esteem and respect in Buryatia. For the Buryats, Darkhans are creators, messengers of heaven, and so was Dasha’s father. Balzhin Namdakov is a true folk craftsman, an artist, and a favorite of his fellow villagers. He taught his children to see beauty in everything and embody it in handicrafts, instilled a love of art and nature. “Avoid strong desires, live calmly, float along the river of life, rejoice and enjoy” - these were the words Balzhin Namdakov said to children.
Breakdown of worldview
Until the age of seven, Dashi lived with his parents, and the future sculptor’s idea of the world was shaped by the environment that surrounded him - people, the village, the collective farm. Parents often took little Dasha to farm work. Sheep shearing, mowing, group gatherings after a working day near the fire - these were his most vivid childhood impressions.
But everything changed when it was time to go to school. The village did not have its own high school, so Dashi went to boarding school for six days a week and came home only for one day off and vacation. Over the course of 10 years, the already formed, clear and understandable consciousness of the child was broken. The True World was collapsing. He was told that he needed to live completely differently, that there were truths already written for everyone.
Shaman
Emotional experiences provoked Dasha serious illness stomach, which doctors could not cure, and from which he almost died. The shaman saved me. She said that this suffering is retribution for the break with nature. The shaman's words greatly influenced Dashi. He thought a lot and realized that he must approach life responsibly and never lose touch with his ancient roots and nature.
All natural elements must be perceived intuitively and draw inspiration from them. Many years of school ideological impositions were so difficult for Dasha that he recovered from them with difficulty, and even then not completely, only in the middle of his life.
Little Buddha
Studies
Creative children are born in a creative family. Nature gifted all of the Namdakov brothers and sisters in their own way, but they are all inclined towards graphics and painting, and only Dashi felt form from childhood and always wanted to be a sculptor. His first and most important teacher was, of course, his father. After school, Namdakov’s studies in Moscow did not work out. In 1988, he entered the Krasnoyarsk Art Institute, which he graduated two years ahead of schedule, thanks to his teacher, sculptor Lev Nikolaevich Golovnitsky.
Renaissance
Returning home after college, in Ulan-Ude, Dashi Namdakov organized a tiny workshop - he wanted to get creative as soon as possible. The artist's revival began after the imposition of ideological cliches at school and college. Dashi pulled out from the hidden depths of his memory and soul his childhood perception of the world, where every person is part of the Universe, where the heroes of ancient Buddhist legends and Mongolian epics are alive.
Ursa
The master's first exhibition took place on his birthday, February 16, 2000, in the city of Irkutsk. He turned 33, which was especially symbolic. The exhibition was difficult. Dashi was transporting his works from Ulan-Ude to Irkutsk at night, alone, and his car broke down on the way. But all the experiences were justified. Irkutsk hosted the exhibition. There were many visitors, even artists came, who are always very conservative and do not favor the exhibitions of their colleagues. The next day Dashi woke up happy and famous.
Rich bride
Joke
Namdakov's fame grew. They began to invite him to Krasnoyarsk, Yekaterinburg, and Moscow. Once in 2003, at an international summit in Yekaterinburg, in which Russia and Germany took part, Namdakov represented the art of Siberia. He demonstrated his work, and Vladimir Putin clarified the details in German for Chancellor Schröder. Since then, a joke has been born that Putin was once Dasha’s translator.
Moscow
In 2004, Namdakov and his family moved to live in Moscow, because... he began to be invited to exhibit abroad. The move was both joy and pain for the sculptor. The joy comes from great opportunities in creativity, and the pain comes from the children (Dasha already has three of them), who are growing up in a completely different world. But he does not forget his homeland and tries, if possible, to visit Buryatia more often.
Mongol
In 2007, Dasha Namdakov’s personal exhibition took place at the State Tretyakov Gallery, and in the same year they learned about him not only as a sculptor. Sergei Bodrov’s film “Mongol” was released, in which Namdakov proved himself to be a talented production designer. Bodrov was looking for not just a professional artist for his painting, but an artist with a deep vision and understanding of the topic. And I found it.
Dashi did not agree immediately. After all, the topic of Genghis Khan is taboo for the peoples of the East. As a believer, he believed that the spirits of Genghis Khan should not be disturbed. If they are offended, you can get very hurt. Understanding the importance of the topic, Dashi agreed to participate in the film, but only after he and Sergei Bodrov traveled to Mongolia and received the blessing of the shamans.
After Namdakov created the image of the great Mongol in cinema and dressed his army, he received offers of cooperation from the world's largest directors. But Dashi refused everyone. Filmmaking takes a lot of time, and time for a master is one of the most valuable categories. He devotes his time to sculpture and magical plastic forms.
Garuda
Child of nomadic peoples
According to Namdakov himself, creativity comes first for him. He is a real child of nomadic peoples, for whom it is not a pity for a wife or a horse. As a hereditary darkhan blacksmith, Dashi senses metal and creates masterpieces that connect us with the mysterious past. Bronze, silver, gold - this is the ideal material for it. And stones, wood woven into metal, horsehair, mammoth tusk further enhance the beauty of the master’s creations and connect with the world of our ancestors.
Dashi Namdakov loves to travel, especially to those countries where many antiquities have been preserved. In any museum in the world, the artist immediately goes down to the basement or to the first floor - usually objects of primitive culture are exhibited there and, according to Dashi, true art is there. Everything that was created later falls short of the primitive things that were done in ancient times. In his works, Namdakov strives to reach the level of ancient masters, and in this attitude to art lies the key to understanding Dasha’s work.
Modern Dashi
Since 2014, Namdakov and his family have been living in London, but thoughts of returning to his homeland never leave the sculptor. He gained worldwide fame - his works are kept in the collections of many Russian and foreign museums. Even in the Hermitage, which rarely acquires objects Russian art, created after the 19th century, there are several works by Namdakov. And the sculpture “Element” is in V. Putin’s personal collection.
Element
But the master approaches fame easily and calmly, as his father taught. Money for him means creative freedom. Another secret of the great popularity of Dasha’s works is that he never had idols. All works are the poetry of his soul, this is the world of steppes, herds, nomads, shamans, heroes of legends and myths, living inside the master.
In his work, Dashi Namdakov found something new without inventing something new - he combined old and new, East and West, fantasy and reality.
According to Dasha, it is important for a person to always think about the question “who am I and what am I in this life?”, a divine flower or a rusting nail. It is important to look at the world not through a cloudy glass, but through the prism of eternity.
Kirill Kleimenov
A quarter of a century ago, he created his masterpieces, closing himself off from the whole world in a tiny workshop in Buryatia. Now his works are in the best museums on the planet; Hollywood stars and political titans are hunting for them. Dashi Namdakov is a sculptor and artist with the soul of a nomad. In St. Petersburg at the Russian Museum there is an exhibition of amazing things.
Dissertations are written about his works, films are made, but it’s not easy to see them in person: almost all of them are in private collections. Dashi Namdakov, one of the most mysterious artists of our time, is reputed to be a recluse and taciturn.
Stone, bronze, paper, bone... Namdakov is able to subjugate, it seems, any material to his imagination. Here is “Eternity” - made of gold, “Princess” - from mammoth ivory. But bronze remains my favorite. The art of casting has been passed down in his family for centuries. Namdakovs are darkhans. In Buryatia, this is the name given to masters who have tamed fire and metal. His first teacher was his father.
“He could do everything. He weaved carpets, painted paintings, I grew up in this aroma, smells oil paints, dried brushes. Eight children, he gave each of us a brush and said: “This is a charitable work, you must have a hand!” - the artist recalls.
Until the age of seven, Dashi lived in a distant Transbaikal village. Children's world his was huge: heroes folk epic, Buddhist parables, beauty native nature. Echoes of those childhood impressions are visible in his works today. But at the same time, art critics emphasize: Dashi Namdakov is not so simple, he is a modern, even avant-garde artist.
“This is a skull, this is an image of steppe culture, very common among nomads. But at the same time, this is a great tradition of ancient and European culture, and all his problems, passions, like Picasso’s, are passions modern man! - notes Alexander Borovsky, head of the department of modern trends of the State Russian Museum.
After school he came to Moscow, failed the exam in art school and wanted to quit everything. But the talented guy was noticed by the outstanding teacher of the Krasnoyarsk Art Institute, Academician Lev Golovnitsky. He simply locked Dashi in the workshop. And he sculpted, read, and drew for a whole year. And historical battles and ceremonies were played out there - the student and teacher dramatized ancient events.
“We sat on chariots, flew on horses, pharaohs, shot back from lions. I felt that I was a participant in all those events,” recalls Dashi Namdakov.
He defended his diploma ahead of schedule. And then for several years he worked like a hermit in a tiny workshop in Ulan-Ude. And only at the age of 33 he became famous. Straightaway. In one day. There was an exhibition in Irkutsk, after which Namdakov’s works were acquired by leading museums in the world, major collectors and even politicians and Hollywood stars.
Critics still cannot classify Namdakov as one of the existing styles. They explain: the artist seemed to have spied these images in our dreams, dreams, and memories. That is why the exhibition at the Russian Museum leaves no one indifferent and evokes an emotional response in every visitor.
He calls his visit to St. Petersburg “a foray into the world.” A few days later he is going back to the workshop. Behind closed doors again. To your not yet embodied and such amazing figures.
