Ivan Yamberdov, an Honored Artist of Russia and Honored Artist of the Mari ASSR, was born in the village of Chodrayal in the Volzhsky District of the Mari El Republic. He studied art at the Yoshkar-Ola Art College and then the Surikov Moscow State Art Institute. From 1986 to 2004, about ten solo exhibitions of the artist were held in Russia and abroad. His works are kept in museums of the Republic of Mari El, Russia, Finland, Estonia, Hungary, Israel, Italy and in private collections in various countries. In his art, Ivan Yamberdov addresses the poetics of folk life and national themes. The painter also focuses on preserving traditions, customs, culture of the Mari people, traditional religion and beliefs. At the beginning of his career, Ivan Yamberdov worked in the Socialist Realism style, and later features of national symbolism became more prominent in his art.
In 2016, Ivan Yamberdov took part in the All-Russian plein air session based on the theme “Mari El — the land of ancestors: traditions and modernity”. As a result, he created the work “Chumbylat Kuryk”, which was included in the permanent exhibition of the National Art Gallery.
Chumbylat Kuryk is a mountain above the Nemda River in the Kirov Oblast, the legendary burial place of the epic Mari hero — Prince Chumbylat. At the end of the 11th century, he gathered most of the scattered Mari tribes under his patronage and built many fortress cities. The Mari people considered him their supreme ruler and protector. Mount Chumbylat is the most revered pagan site of worship of the Mari people. In 1830, on the initiative of the Holy Synod and the instructions of the Minister of Internal Affairs Arseny Zakrevsky, the mountain was blown up, and the Mari people were forcibly evicted from these places. However, the Mari faith could not be broken: they began to pray at the destroyed sacred rock in secret, at night, traveling many miles to come to the prince’s hillfort.
In the painting, Ivan Yamberdov combined real and sacred planes to convey Mount Chumbylat. The composition is built vertically. On a high hill that occupies the entire space, we see sunlight breaking through thin tall trees. In the center of the canvas is the Mari solar symbol. The color palette of the painting is based on the contrast of deep green shades, which create a mystical feeling, and bright highlights of yellow, which add light and joy.
In 2016, Ivan Yamberdov took part in the All-Russian plein air session based on the theme “Mari El — the land of ancestors: traditions and modernity”. As a result, he created the work “Chumbylat Kuryk”, which was included in the permanent exhibition of the National Art Gallery.
Chumbylat Kuryk is a mountain above the Nemda River in the Kirov Oblast, the legendary burial place of the epic Mari hero — Prince Chumbylat. At the end of the 11th century, he gathered most of the scattered Mari tribes under his patronage and built many fortress cities. The Mari people considered him their supreme ruler and protector. Mount Chumbylat is the most revered pagan site of worship of the Mari people. In 1830, on the initiative of the Holy Synod and the instructions of the Minister of Internal Affairs Arseny Zakrevsky, the mountain was blown up, and the Mari people were forcibly evicted from these places. However, the Mari faith could not be broken: they began to pray at the destroyed sacred rock in secret, at night, traveling many miles to come to the prince’s hillfort.
In the painting, Ivan Yamberdov combined real and sacred planes to convey Mount Chumbylat. The composition is built vertically. On a high hill that occupies the entire space, we see sunlight breaking through thin tall trees. In the center of the canvas is the Mari solar symbol. The color palette of the painting is based on the contrast of deep green shades, which create a mystical feeling, and bright highlights of yellow, which add light and joy.
