The people’s artist Rem Yermolin worked in various genres, mainly focusing on portraits and themed paintings. He first came to the Pechora region, to Ust-Tsilma, at the end of 1967. After that, he visited the region every year. His works from the Pechora period were combined into the Ust-Tsilma series and became the artist’s best-known masterpiece. The series was recognized by the State Prize of the Komi Republic and a diploma of the USSR Academy of Arts.
Rem Yermolin created several dozen paintings of various genres, depicting local villagers, folk crafts, holidays, and nature. The most prominent paintings in the series are the large “Pechora Silver”, “Ust-Tsilma Festival”, and “Ust-Tsilma Wedding”, as well as “Ust-Tsilma Gorka” dedicated to a great pagan festival.
Gorka is an ancient festival that involves round dancing and is celebrated only in Ust-Tsilma villages. The custom goes back to the ancient ceremonies in honor of Yarilo, a god of agricultural fertility. On this day, women dress up in their festive dresses which are treasured and passed down as a family heirloom. Gorka is included in the Federal Register of Intangible Cultural Heritage and is considered a trademark of the Ust-Tsilma District.
In the 1960s and 1970s, the authorities tried to ban Gorka as “a vestige of the past” by organizing local brass band shows where Gorka festivities had previously been held. It was during that difficult period that Rem Yermolin became acquainted with the ancient tradition. His painting was displayed at the All-Russian Art Exhibition in Moscow and sparked interest in Komi traditions among journalists, film directors, and writers.
In Yermolin’s painting, the festivities take place on stage instead of out in the street. The artist depicted a rehearsal of the Song and Dance Company in the Ust-Tsilma House of Culture.
According to Tatiana Kislyakova, a member of the ensemble, the painting depicts the famous Gorka vocalists. From left to right: Zoya Durkina (Chuprova), currently the head of the folklore ensemble “Native Tunes” in the town of Naryan-Mar; accordion player Grigory Bulygin; Tamara Bobrakova, Anna Semenchina; next, three women in the front — Tatiana Kislyakova herself, the famous vocalist, veteran of the Great Patriotic War and Full Cavalier of the Order of Glory Kirill Chuprov, to his right — Claudia Bulygina. They are followed by Nadezhda Vityazeva and Valentina Tiranova. Then Fedosya Nosova and her niece Olga Nosova, Claudia Khozyainova, Marfa Tiranova, followed by Viktor Sukhov, on the far right — Kirill Chuprov’s daughter Maria, Antonina Gorbunova and Praskovya Pozdeyeva. At the stage is the artistic director of the House of Culture Lyubov Kyzyurova.
