Georgy Alexandrovich Tsivilyov (1914–1956), born in Blagoveshchensk, had the honor to become the first professional artist of Komsomolsk-on-Amur and one of the first artists of the Khabarovsk Krai to join the Artists’ Union of the USSR.
In 1932, being an 18-year-old graduate of the Leningrad School of Painting, he accompanied the first builders of Komsomolsk-on-Amur to uproot the taiga and build a narrow-gauge railway and also worked there as a turner and a locksmith. Tsivilyov also had an opportunity to distinguish himself as an artist: he was engaged in designing holiday decorations, wall newspapers, and posters. He watched the people working next to him and adopted ideas for his future paintings. In the 1930s, the artist mostly painted watercolors, sketches and studies; in 1937, he participated in two exhibitions — the 5th regional exhibition and the other one in honor of the 5th anniversary of Komsomolsk-on-Amur.
Georgy Tsivilyov worked toward various goals: he created paintings and illustrated books, worked as a teacher and a scenic designer, and encouraged the Palace of Culture to organize art workshops and a studio.
The artist’s widow recalled how understanding and loving he was toward his students and young people in general, how he taught them to discover the beauty of life and use sketches and studies to record their discoveries and observations.
The artist dedicated the 1940s and the 1950s to documenting the history of the construction of Komsomolsk-on-Amur, working in socialist realism, as well as creating memorable intimate portraits. One of them is the portrait called “Girl with a Dog”, painted a year before Georgy Tsivilyov’s death. A very young girl, standing on the threshold of a house next to a large dog, looks a bit pensive as if she is actively trying to find a solution to a serious problem. It is works like this one that show the artist’s love for life, people and the city that has grown to be his home.
Georgy Alexandrovich Tsivilyov demanded a lot from himself, believing that he had not done enough yet, and refused to organize any personal exhibitions. His first solo exhibition was held only in 1956 after he had already passed away. Other memorial exhibitions were held in 1984 and 2004. His works rightfully occupy the first page of the artistic chronicle of Komsomolsk-on-Amur.
In 1932, being an 18-year-old graduate of the Leningrad School of Painting, he accompanied the first builders of Komsomolsk-on-Amur to uproot the taiga and build a narrow-gauge railway and also worked there as a turner and a locksmith. Tsivilyov also had an opportunity to distinguish himself as an artist: he was engaged in designing holiday decorations, wall newspapers, and posters. He watched the people working next to him and adopted ideas for his future paintings. In the 1930s, the artist mostly painted watercolors, sketches and studies; in 1937, he participated in two exhibitions — the 5th regional exhibition and the other one in honor of the 5th anniversary of Komsomolsk-on-Amur.
Georgy Tsivilyov worked toward various goals: he created paintings and illustrated books, worked as a teacher and a scenic designer, and encouraged the Palace of Culture to organize art workshops and a studio.
The artist’s widow recalled how understanding and loving he was toward his students and young people in general, how he taught them to discover the beauty of life and use sketches and studies to record their discoveries and observations.
The artist dedicated the 1940s and the 1950s to documenting the history of the construction of Komsomolsk-on-Amur, working in socialist realism, as well as creating memorable intimate portraits. One of them is the portrait called “Girl with a Dog”, painted a year before Georgy Tsivilyov’s death. A very young girl, standing on the threshold of a house next to a large dog, looks a bit pensive as if she is actively trying to find a solution to a serious problem. It is works like this one that show the artist’s love for life, people and the city that has grown to be his home.
Georgy Alexandrovich Tsivilyov demanded a lot from himself, believing that he had not done enough yet, and refused to organize any personal exhibitions. His first solo exhibition was held only in 1956 after he had already passed away. Other memorial exhibitions were held in 1984 and 2004. His works rightfully occupy the first page of the artistic chronicle of Komsomolsk-on-Amur.
