30.05.2020
Making art for Knight & Wolf music album
Alexander's story
The project's paintings were created by an artist, restorer and designer Alexander Denisov.
Alexander was born in 1964 in Dzerzhinsk, Nizhny Novgorod region. Since his childhood, he felt he had a knack for art even though he got his first degree in the Red Army Chemical Engineering College. He was planning to work at a local factory, but suddenly he was offered a job of a theatre decorator. Not long after that, he had to serve in the army.
Alexander could not forget about his artistic hobby even when he during his service. He kept practising making sketches and after the army, he made up his mind to fulfil this dream and become an artist. He started taking night classes at an art school and this is where he met his future wife Marina.
In the middle of 80-s Alexander and Marina left Dzerzhinsk to start their professional career in Suzdal where they entered an art college. There Alexander acquired many artistic skills and became a professional painter and restorer.
At that time Suzdal's administration and the artists of this city created a collaborative art union named "Kovcheg" (Ark). Alexander was one of the founders of this union and the first one to share his art abroad. Suzdal was a close ally to the German city of Rothenburg ob der Tauber which soon became a platform for Alexander's expositions.
He kept exposing his paintings until the beginning of the 21st century. Then the interest of the public started shifting and Alexander left this job and moved to Vladimir and then to Moscow. There he worked as a restorer and later as an interior designer. His first project was a restoration of Grand Kremlin Palace's golden moldings.
Alexander was born in 1964 in Dzerzhinsk, Nizhny Novgorod region. Since his childhood, he felt he had a knack for art even though he got his first degree in the Red Army Chemical Engineering College. He was planning to work at a local factory, but suddenly he was offered a job of a theatre decorator. Not long after that, he had to serve in the army.
Alexander could not forget about his artistic hobby even when he during his service. He kept practising making sketches and after the army, he made up his mind to fulfil this dream and become an artist. He started taking night classes at an art school and this is where he met his future wife Marina.
In the middle of 80-s Alexander and Marina left Dzerzhinsk to start their professional career in Suzdal where they entered an art college. There Alexander acquired many artistic skills and became a professional painter and restorer.
At that time Suzdal's administration and the artists of this city created a collaborative art union named "Kovcheg" (Ark). Alexander was one of the founders of this union and the first one to share his art abroad. Suzdal was a close ally to the German city of Rothenburg ob der Tauber which soon became a platform for Alexander's expositions.
He kept exposing his paintings until the beginning of the 21st century. Then the interest of the public started shifting and Alexander left this job and moved to Vladimir and then to Moscow. There he worked as a restorer and later as an interior designer. His first project was a restoration of Grand Kremlin Palace's golden moldings.
Alexander spent the next 10 years in Moscow restoring the city's diverse places, cooperated with architects and painters. But in 2011 he had to return to his hometown because of a serious illness.
Alexander's coming back changed the project's image significantly. His son Ilya was waiting for him there and did not talk that much with his father as he was always away. First Ilya suggested his father exhibiting his paintings in new popular art spaces and thus finding common ground to reconnect with each other. Their cooperation has led to the creation of Knight&Wolf project.
The project was first intended to present a music album but pretty soon Ilya realized that he would want to work together on it with his father considering that even the music pieces he wrote reflected on Ilya's life and the way he saw his father's challenges in life. Ultimately, the project's images not only accompanied the music album but also epitomized Ilya and Alexander's strive for the best in each other.
Alexander's coming back changed the project's image significantly. His son Ilya was waiting for him there and did not talk that much with his father as he was always away. First Ilya suggested his father exhibiting his paintings in new popular art spaces and thus finding common ground to reconnect with each other. Their cooperation has led to the creation of Knight&Wolf project.
The project was first intended to present a music album but pretty soon Ilya realized that he would want to work together on it with his father considering that even the music pieces he wrote reflected on Ilya's life and the way he saw his father's challenges in life. Ultimately, the project's images not only accompanied the music album but also epitomized Ilya and Alexander's strive for the best in each other.
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My father basically ceased to exist in my everyday life when I was a child. He came into my life again when I already plunged into adult life or I was rather drowning in it.
It was a crucial moment in the lives of both of us. I was looking forward into the future sensing fear while he was looking back to his past with disappointment. We came to create something together with the aim of supporting and embracing the problems of each other. Our artistic dialogue was filled with self-analysis lines.
Thus we created a main character whose life challenges he encounters with belonged once to my father while the Knight's future path is the one I choose for myself.
It was a crucial moment in the lives of both of us. I was looking forward into the future sensing fear while he was looking back to his past with disappointment. We came to create something together with the aim of supporting and embracing the problems of each other. Our artistic dialogue was filled with self-analysis lines.
Thus we created a main character whose life challenges he encounters with belonged once to my father while the Knight's future path is the one I choose for myself.
The album’s artwork illustrates a substantive view of the history. It enables the listener to become a viewer, explore the portrayals, signs and symbols. The genre of these works can be characterized as illustrations combining a few art styles.
Alexander drew inspiration in Tarot cards while creating his art pieces. Each of the cards tends to depict a person's role in life into a trump card having a particular symbol. The project's paintings go the same way and each of the scenes illustrates the major steps that a man makes in his life. But at the same time, male protagonists of the story appear as both leading characters and the bright symbols.
The paintings depicted on thick cardboard do not belong to one art style creations. The painter merged diverse styles into a harmonious assemblage of symbols and characters. Alexander mixed oil, acrylic and ink to make his 50x38 cm images.
Alexander passed away in July 2018. Paintings and sonnets to the project Knight & Wolf were the last and crucial artwork that he has ever created. This serves now as his heritage and an inspiring tale for those who remain naive and who question the notion of dream and happiness.
Alexander drew inspiration in Tarot cards while creating his art pieces. Each of the cards tends to depict a person's role in life into a trump card having a particular symbol. The project's paintings go the same way and each of the scenes illustrates the major steps that a man makes in his life. But at the same time, male protagonists of the story appear as both leading characters and the bright symbols.
The paintings depicted on thick cardboard do not belong to one art style creations. The painter merged diverse styles into a harmonious assemblage of symbols and characters. Alexander mixed oil, acrylic and ink to make his 50x38 cm images.
Alexander passed away in July 2018. Paintings and sonnets to the project Knight & Wolf were the last and crucial artwork that he has ever created. This serves now as his heritage and an inspiring tale for those who remain naive and who question the notion of dream and happiness.
After Alexander
Alexander’s passing has been a serious blow for Knight & Wolf team, especially for Ilya. But after several months Ilya still decided that an album should be finished and presented even with the tragic circumstances at that moment.
The album presentation was planned as a complex event. The authors of the project intended to create illustrations and art pieces exposition which could be exhibited in a special hall. Then the same exhibition site could be used to perform several selected compositions by a chamber orchestra. To organize this event, Ilya asked his mother, Marina Mitina for help.
Marina is a graduate of Suzdal’ Art and Restoration Institution and Nizhny Novgorod State Pedagogical University. She is an artist, teacher and Alexander’s ex-wife.
Marina’s work has been exhibited together with Alexander’s in Germany in 1992, 1995 and 1999. Then each year starting from 2004 she took part in Nizhny Novgorod regional exhibition for artists. Her paintings can be seen in both public and private places in Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Odessa, Nizhny Novgorod, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Baku and Nuremberg. In 2010 she has been mentioned in an album guide Colours Presented to the City as a distinguished artist of Dzerzhinsk.
The album presentation was planned as a complex event. The authors of the project intended to create illustrations and art pieces exposition which could be exhibited in a special hall. Then the same exhibition site could be used to perform several selected compositions by a chamber orchestra. To organize this event, Ilya asked his mother, Marina Mitina for help.
Marina is a graduate of Suzdal’ Art and Restoration Institution and Nizhny Novgorod State Pedagogical University. She is an artist, teacher and Alexander’s ex-wife.
Marina’s work has been exhibited together with Alexander’s in Germany in 1992, 1995 and 1999. Then each year starting from 2004 she took part in Nizhny Novgorod regional exhibition for artists. Her paintings can be seen in both public and private places in Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Odessa, Nizhny Novgorod, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Baku and Nuremberg. In 2010 she has been mentioned in an album guide Colours Presented to the City as a distinguished artist of Dzerzhinsk.
At the beginning of 2019 Ilya managed to present his project to Nizhny Novgorod Exhibition Complex Team and decide on the date of the exhibition. Marina helped him to plan and decorate the works. But the biggest challenge she faced was finishing a painting that Alexander didn’t get a chance to.
Alexander finished all the storyline illustrations but he didn’t completed additional format that he planned for the exhibition. Ilya and Marina decided to finish the main one: the painting Knight & Cinder. There was only a verbal description of this painting and its small draft.
The painting Knight & Cinder was ready by the day of the exhibition setting up. It became the highlight of the exhibition and took a special part among the rest of the illustrations.
Alexander finished all the storyline illustrations but he didn’t completed additional format that he planned for the exhibition. Ilya and Marina decided to finish the main one: the painting Knight & Cinder. There was only a verbal description of this painting and its small draft.
The painting Knight & Cinder was ready by the day of the exhibition setting up. It became the highlight of the exhibition and took a special part among the rest of the illustrations.
Knight & Cinder painting is not included in the album narration but it appears to be sort of a backstory of the main character. Thanks to the painting Marina and Ilya both extended the Knight’s character and described Alexander Denisov lifepath whose life was set as a basis of the storyline.
The project exhibition and presentation were held in two parts. First there was an opening on March 7 and on March 28 there was a final event where Nizhny Novgorod Immersive orchestra performed selected album compositions.
When the exhibition was over, Marina continued the work with paintings and created some missing illustrations basing on Alexander’s sketches. These paintings illustrate the characters of Knight & Wolf album.
Marina Mitina’s contribution to the project helped to finish the work started by Alexander. Thanks to that, Nizhny Novgorod citizens were able to explore the story of Alexander’s life and his reunion with a son.
When the exhibition was over, Marina continued the work with paintings and created some missing illustrations basing on Alexander’s sketches. These paintings illustrate the characters of Knight & Wolf album.
Marina Mitina’s contribution to the project helped to finish the work started by Alexander. Thanks to that, Nizhny Novgorod citizens were able to explore the story of Alexander’s life and his reunion with a son.
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But parents should not be left if you have them. There is always a generation gap which is inevitable. There is always a moment when they can find nothing to talk about. But parents don't deserve to be abandoned. And this is where a child should decide whether he can change or form a new relationship with a parent.
Sometimes it is worth trying to take a step towards creating a new context for communication. As you can see with the Knight and Wolf Project, this attitude can create an incredible and amazing experience.
Sometimes it is worth trying to take a step towards creating a new context for communication. As you can see with the Knight and Wolf Project, this attitude can create an incredible and amazing experience.
