The artist Nikolay Leonidovich Gusev was born in the town of Zavolzhsk, Ivanovo Oblast. He decided to tie his professional and creative activities to the village of Krasnoye-on-Volga near Kostroma. He came there on a work assignment after graduating from the Nekrasov Kostroma Pedagogical Institute and began teaching special disciplines at the Krasnoselsky School of Artistic Metalworking.
In 2006, for a significant personal contribution to the cultural and spiritual development of the region, Nikolay Gusev was awarded the medal “For Services to the Krasnoselsky District of the Kostroma Oblast. Merit. Honor.” In 2011, he was granted the badge of the Artists’ Union of Russia “Mastery. Spirituality. Traditions”.
The artist found themes for his artworks in the surrounding reality. He was particularly attracted to rural scenes. The painting “Wooden Artifacts of an Abandoned Village” seems to open up the world in which our ancestors lived, allowing us to feel a spiritual connection with them.
Nikolay Gusev was fond of the most mundane objects, in fact, this adoration represented his love for the Motherland. Turning in his works to ancient village utensils, for instance, bowls, birch bark baskets, bast shoes, and carved shelves, the artist sought to return the viewer to the old village. These items are a testament to the past.
The painting is an instruction to remember and protect one’s roots. The artist himself once noted,
