The painting Winter Study. New Build by painter Felix Assorov from the town of Uzlovaya, has both artistic and historic values. This canvas depicts one of the first construction stages of the dormitory for the plastics’ factory, which still exists today.
Now this building is already half a century old. During this time, its purpose has changed, so have the dominant architectural trends and building technologies themselves. For 1970 — the time captured in the painting — that construction was unique. In the middle of the 20th century, technology and materials did not allow for brickworks to be carried out in cold weather. However, looking at the painting we can see that the construction of the dormitory-to-be is in full swing. The tower cranes are in operation, construction workers and bricklayers on the already built inter-floor constructions are at work.
Even though in the late 1960s — early 1970s, large-scale residential and industrial constructions were typical for Uzlovaya, and it would seem there is nothing unusual about another one of those construction objects, we can see how passers-by stop to watch the construction process. And indeed, the sight of winter construction in those times was quite surprising.
White and grey tones are dominant in this painting: they are in the snow, and cloudy sky, and bare tree trunks. Even the construction blocks are dim-grey — just like the sky. Only some bright brick wall fragments of the erected building enliven the landscape that unfolds before the spectator’s eyes. In the bottom left corner, there is another bright orange spot that at first may look as if was transferred here from another canvas. This is the building of the Young Pioneers’ Hall that still exists in the town today. Its appearance has changed a lot since then, however, it makes it even more interesting for its current students to be able to see what the building used to look like half a century ago.
The format of the canvas itself is interesting and unusual — it is stretched out vertically. Felix Assorov used this to accentuate the great scale of the construction he painted — as if he left space on his painting for the levels yet to be built.
Felix Ivanovich was born in the village of Kodushenka of Tula Region on 10 January 1937. After graduation from Moscow State Art School in 1960, Assorov returned to his home and settled down in the town of Uzlovaya. He worked in an art studio at the local Young Pioneers’ Hall. He was also one of the founders of the Uzlovaya Children’s Art School, where he worked as an art teacher from the date it was founded in 1991, up until his retirement.
Felix Assorov is a member of the Union of Artists of Russia, a holder of Certificates of Appreciation from the Ministry of Culture of Russia and from the governor of Tula Region, and a participant of many municipal, regional and state touring exhibitions. One can encounter his paintings in museums of Tula, Orel, Kursk, Uzlovaya, as well as in private collections. In around 2005, the artist moved to Ryazan, where he lives and works to this day.
Now this building is already half a century old. During this time, its purpose has changed, so have the dominant architectural trends and building technologies themselves. For 1970 — the time captured in the painting — that construction was unique. In the middle of the 20th century, technology and materials did not allow for brickworks to be carried out in cold weather. However, looking at the painting we can see that the construction of the dormitory-to-be is in full swing. The tower cranes are in operation, construction workers and bricklayers on the already built inter-floor constructions are at work.
Even though in the late 1960s — early 1970s, large-scale residential and industrial constructions were typical for Uzlovaya, and it would seem there is nothing unusual about another one of those construction objects, we can see how passers-by stop to watch the construction process. And indeed, the sight of winter construction in those times was quite surprising.
White and grey tones are dominant in this painting: they are in the snow, and cloudy sky, and bare tree trunks. Even the construction blocks are dim-grey — just like the sky. Only some bright brick wall fragments of the erected building enliven the landscape that unfolds before the spectator’s eyes. In the bottom left corner, there is another bright orange spot that at first may look as if was transferred here from another canvas. This is the building of the Young Pioneers’ Hall that still exists in the town today. Its appearance has changed a lot since then, however, it makes it even more interesting for its current students to be able to see what the building used to look like half a century ago.
The format of the canvas itself is interesting and unusual — it is stretched out vertically. Felix Assorov used this to accentuate the great scale of the construction he painted — as if he left space on his painting for the levels yet to be built.
Felix Ivanovich was born in the village of Kodushenka of Tula Region on 10 January 1937. After graduation from Moscow State Art School in 1960, Assorov returned to his home and settled down in the town of Uzlovaya. He worked in an art studio at the local Young Pioneers’ Hall. He was also one of the founders of the Uzlovaya Children’s Art School, where he worked as an art teacher from the date it was founded in 1991, up until his retirement.
Felix Assorov is a member of the Union of Artists of Russia, a holder of Certificates of Appreciation from the Ministry of Culture of Russia and from the governor of Tula Region, and a participant of many municipal, regional and state touring exhibitions. One can encounter his paintings in museums of Tula, Orel, Kursk, Uzlovaya, as well as in private collections. In around 2005, the artist moved to Ryazan, where he lives and works to this day.
