ANATOLY TIMOFEYEVICH ZVEREV (1931–1986) IS A LEGEND OF THE MOSCOW “UNOFFICIAL ART” SCENE OF THE LATTER HALF OF THE 20TH CENTURY. A BRILLIANT MASTER OF IMPROVISATION, THE MOST PROMINENT REPRESENTATIVE OF EXPRESSIONISM OF HIS ERA IN THE SOVIET ART SPACE; PAINTER AND PRINTMAKER. A BRILLIANT PORTRAITIST WITH HIS OWN VIRTUOSO TECHNIQUE OF WATERCOLOUR PAINTING, ZVEREV BELONGS TO THE MOSCOW NON-CONFORMIST MOVEMENT. ONE OF THE BEST KNOWN UNOFFICIAL ARTIST ALLIANCES WAS THE LIANOZOVO GROUP, ACTIVE IN MOSCOW IN THE 1960S AND 1970S, WHICH COUNTED ANATOLY ZVEREV AMONG ITS MEMBERS.

WHAT IS THE UNITING ELEMENT IN THE WORK OF THESE TWO ARTISTS?
IT IS THEIR FREE SPIRIT, THEIR BELIEF IN THE VERITIES OF THEIR ART AND THEIR HONESTY WITH THEMSELVES.

ETHICAL PRINCIPLES AND THE PRESENCE OF THE POLITICAL CONTEXT, TRUTHFULNESS AND IDYLLIC SOCIAL REALISM… SUCH IS THE PERPETUAL STRUGGLE OF OPPOSITES OF WHICH ARTISTIC TRUTH IS BORN.

TEXT: ILZE KUIŠELE, DIRECTOR OF TIFANA ART GALLERY