Pavel Ilyshev’s Solo Exhibition of Paintings Unveiled in Cultural Center

A solo exhibition of Distinguished Artist of the Russian Federation, Assistant Professor of the S.M. Gerasimov Russian State University of Cinematography (VGIK) Pavel V. Ilyshev has opened in the GlavUpDK Cultural Center.

The heads of diplomatic missions, cultural attaches, members of the International Women’s Club, cultural and art figures attended the event.

GlavUpDK Head Alexey Yu. Izotov addressed the guests with words of welcome. “It’s a special day for us. We are opening an exhibition of talented Russian artist Pavel Vitalievich Ilyshev. Importantly, this event takes place within the framework of the Russian-Japanese cross-cultural year. The fact that Japanese Ambassador to Russia Mr. Toyohisa Kozuki is present in this room today is also of major importance,” Isotov said.

Alexey Izotov also withed the artist many happy returns and great creative success on his 60th birthday anniversary.

Japanese Ambassador to Russia Toyohisa Kozuki delivered a welcome speech to those present. He congratulated the artist on the exhibition opening, saying that its name “Russia-Japan: the dialogue of nature and culture in painting, graphic arts and cinema sketches” eloquently reflects the nature of the presented works. Toyohisa Kozuki emphasized that the activities of diplomats and artists are similar: both diplomacy and art play a crucial role building bridges between people of different countries. The ambassador also stressed the importance of Ilyshev’s art in the development of Russian-Japanese relations.

According to Toyohisa Kozuki, the artist’s work that had been presented during a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and former Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori has become an adornment of the Japanese politician’s office.

Pavel Ilyshev for his part told the audience a story of the creation of some of his paintings and thanked GlavUpDK for assistance in organizing the exhibition.

The exposition consists of several sections of different nature and themes. It presents landscapes of Russia and Japan, works reflecting the history of the development of relations between the two countries, cinema sketches.

Ilyshev loves and knows Japan not only as an artist who worked in this country, but also as an explorer. Many Japanese landscapes are painted from nature and reflect the unique natural and architectural havens of Tokyo, Kyoto, Nagasaki...

In the view of the artist, art and culture bring people together. And this exhibition will allow Russians to get acquainted with the history and nature of Japan, to understand the country and its people better.

“The Japanese have a special, careful, it may be said - a philosophical attitude to nature, much like they treat a living being. Our Russian nature is also very rich and interesting. My pieces of art are designed to show our points of contact,” Ilyshev told those present.

The artist said that not so much the appraisal of his works, but the possibility to convey the perception, the sensation of a particular landscape is important for him. Some of the artist’s works are textured, spatial. Contrary to common rules, one can enjoy them not only watching, but also touching, perceiving the art through tactile sensations.