The artist Vyacheslav Kulikov was born in Moscow and moved to Syktyvkar after graduating from the Painting and Drawing Department of the Moscow State Pedagogical Institute named after Vladimir Lenin. He actively contributed to the local art scene and proved to be a talented painter. Vyacheslav Kulikov bought a house in the small village of Yb where he lived and worked most of the time.
Living in the countryside influenced Kulikov’s choice of subjects. In his work, he depicted the distinctive way of life of Komi villagers. The artist painted landscapes of Yb in different seasons, still lifes with gifts of the forest, holiday tables with traditional Komi dishes, and old village utensils. In each painting, Vyacheslav Kulikov came up with unique artistic solutions, using the impasto technique. He seemed to be molding the image on the surface of the canvas. Many of his paintings are almost monochrome, based on the slightest color nuances.
“Traditional Utensils” is one of Kulikov’s best still lifes. In this work, the artist admires the beauty of the form and texture of handmade goods which were once essential in everyday life but are now stored in closets. These include minimalistic bratina ladles, birch bark baskets, clay pots, spindles, and woven snowshoes. Each item has its own story associated with the fate of the old village house, the large family, and the entire dynasty.
Standing on the shelf next to the utensils, there are old icons glimmering with tarnished gold. Among them are “The Virgin of Tenderness” in a metal cover, “Polnitsa” (an icon with all the Great Feasts), and “The Resurrection and Harrowing of Hell with the Twelve Great Feasts”. The home iconostasis depicted the most significant feasts in the Orthodox liturgical calendar.
The warm ocher color palette is based on the nuances of earth tones, the colors of wood and clay which is what these objects are made of. The color palette is enlivened by areas of green — the patina on an old copper barn key and the green rag tucked behind the lintel of the closet door. The objects are depicted life-size, fully immersing the viewer in the scene. Thick brushstrokes create a sense of volume and make the viewers feel as though they can actually touch these objects.
