Insight into the modern Russian fine arts

The Russian fine arts until recently has represented a harmonious blend of national art cultures. Speaking about national schools, it is possible to define the main qualities of each of them, for example, to point out traditional psychologism of Russian culture, emotionality  and lyricism of Ukrainian, dramatic character and (according to some researchers) tragic heroism of Belarus, cheerful decorativeness  of Moldavian or Armenian, special  closeness to national roots of Lithuanian, Kirghiz, Uzbek,  rational-intellectual spirit of Estonian, etc.

But it would be, certainly, very limited, one-sided, and consequently incorrect characteristics as a whole. Each of national schools with its complex figurative-stylistic peculiarities in variety of forms, techniques, stylistics remained true to the main human ideals. So-called art of the end of 20th  - the beginning of 21th century keeps within too small temporary frameworks to select any names for an objective historical picture.

Russian art of the recent years is diverse enough.

During this period along with an official art there was a process of legalization of various informal associations. "Underground" has not only entered Russian art life, but became almost elite art about which people speak « with aspiration », but which still needs objective and critical evaluation as well as the activity of numerous recently opened art galleries and different art editions.

The postavant guarde  turns to be  a rather complicated problem. For years of the Soviet government there has been created so many works sadly lacking  form and essence, products of a socialist realism, that considering  such background Russian avant guarde of the 20th century, became perceived (especially by young artists and spectators) as the most advanced ( for  some people even unique) art in the world. Rehabilitation of such names as Filonov and Malevich, boosted the process. Talented critics mourned over its cut off development. And all have somehow forgotten, that Soviet avant guarde of the 20th was that powerful force, which began to destroy classical traditions of Russian art. And under what pressure it has been done! Revolution has given the richest opportunities for spread of the nihilistic art, without history, without native land, without roots.

The modern, so-called postavant guarde, with its imposture and aggression, the same familiar pathos of destruction is based on citations: both in literature, cinema, and the fine arts. Famous artists have reason to complain that we live in the time of false prophets, and if today someone is posed as great, tomorrow,  it is always somebody else, and the next day brings the next prophet. Irony and sneer at every day routine, and sometimes a reflection so characteristic of the Russian intelligence remains

the best in the postavant guarde art. In the beginning of the 3d millennium it is necessary to confess, that high art has been pushed out by the mass art and kitsch as its extreme expression. This is not only Russian, but also the universal phenomenon. That is why, it  becomes clear, no matter how tragically it sounds, that we live in a century of cultural catastrophe. And the roots of this process go deep into the 19th century when the religious consciousness and a traditional way of life has declined, and bourgeois tradition has awoken protest in the form of godless revolt and esthetic excuse for vice and evil.

But what is left for the true artist in our new world? Undoubtedly, the creator should have a spirit of an enlightenment, and the hash historic reality of his days can only deepen this enlightenment.

Fortunately, in  recent years the young artists more often reject nihilism and turn to the roots and traditions. That is why, we so often recall the words of the great Russian writer about the unique responsiveness of Russian people. Some special flexibility, readiness of Russian culture to study and accept  various cultural forms from other nations, transforming them  in its own way, enriching it with emotional aspect and spiritual contents and creating the new art reality, fortunately, has not disappeared in Russia. It gives hope. Undoubtedly, Russia  is obviously going to say its  word in 21th century and leave the trace in the worlds history, and culture.