Ivan Yamberdov, an Honored Artist of Russia and Honored Artist of the Mari El Republic, was born on September 16, 1955 in the village of Chodrayal in the Volzhsky District of the Mari El Republic. He studied art at the Yoshkar-Ola Art College (1971–1975) and the Surikov Moscow State Art Institute (1975–1981).
Since 1976, the artist has actively participated in republican, regional, all-Russian and international art exhibitions. Solo exhibitions and vernissages of Ivan Mikhailovich have been organized in Estonia, Finland, and Germany; about ten were held in 1986–2004. The artist’s works are kept in museums of the Republic of Mari El, Russia, Finland, Estonia, Hungary, Israel, Italy and in private collections. In 2015, Ivan Yamberdov won the National Prize in the field of contemporary fine and decorative arts of Russia “The Russian Gallery — XXI century” in the category “Portrait”.
In his paintings, the artist often turns to national themes. 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.
“On The Wedding Day” is a plot picture: the artist depicts the preparations for a wedding ceremony. There are many versions as to who is portrayed here. The artist himself says that there is no bride in the painting. The main character (a bridesmaid or a relative) in the foreground is emphasized by color and light. Her face and hands (she holds a handkerchief) are highlighted in red. In this context, it is the color of pain and suffering that conveys her worries about her friend. She wonders how her friend’s fate as a married woman will turn out. The artist reveals the deeply hidden feelings of the heroine. Her loneliness is emphasized by the composition of the canvas. All the objects in the picture are paired: two pairs of women, two icons, two balls. Despite the fact that only women are depicted, the male presence is indicated by a whip on the table, which was used for ritual actions during the wedding, to attract good fortune for the newly formed family, as well as to protect the young from ill wishes and curses.
Since 1976, the artist has actively participated in republican, regional, all-Russian and international art exhibitions. Solo exhibitions and vernissages of Ivan Mikhailovich have been organized in Estonia, Finland, and Germany; about ten were held in 1986–2004. The artist’s works are kept in museums of the Republic of Mari El, Russia, Finland, Estonia, Hungary, Israel, Italy and in private collections. In 2015, Ivan Yamberdov won the National Prize in the field of contemporary fine and decorative arts of Russia “The Russian Gallery — XXI century” in the category “Portrait”.
In his paintings, the artist often turns to national themes. 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.
“On The Wedding Day” is a plot picture: the artist depicts the preparations for a wedding ceremony. There are many versions as to who is portrayed here. The artist himself says that there is no bride in the painting. The main character (a bridesmaid or a relative) in the foreground is emphasized by color and light. Her face and hands (she holds a handkerchief) are highlighted in red. In this context, it is the color of pain and suffering that conveys her worries about her friend. She wonders how her friend’s fate as a married woman will turn out. The artist reveals the deeply hidden feelings of the heroine. Her loneliness is emphasized by the composition of the canvas. All the objects in the picture are paired: two pairs of women, two icons, two balls. Despite the fact that only women are depicted, the male presence is indicated by a whip on the table, which was used for ritual actions during the wedding, to attract good fortune for the newly formed family, as well as to protect the young from ill wishes and curses.
