Saved Sanctity. Icons from the Collection of Nikolai Kormashov
In many ways, the icon collection of the artist Nikolai Kormashov (1929–2012) is exceptional. Saved Sanctity is not just the title of the exhibition, but it describes the long-term selfless activity and life philosophy that is behind the development of this collection. Nikolai Kormashov, whose path to becoming an artist had several decisive turning points, was able to rescue several sacred images that were in danger of destruction.
This collection, with its rare icons, took shape during Kormashov’s trips to northern Russia, his birthplace of Murom, and villages of Old Believers in remote areas. Along with the stories of how the icons were discovered, the exhibition deals with their complicated fate and role in the art of the second half of the 20thcentury art and in spiritual culture.
The exhibition includes more than 150 icons dating from the 15th to the 20th centuries. These range from ones that came from iconostases and were executed at high artistic level, as well as simpler provincial icons. There are traditional sacred images as well as a large number of unique and rare icons. According to Natalia Komashko, head researcher at Moscow’s Andrei Rublev Museum of Early Russian Art and Culture and a consultant for this exhibition, in the scientific sense, Nikolai Kormashov’s collection is one of the most comprehensive private collections that she has come across and Kormashov was one of the most serious collectors.
Coordinator: Aleksandra Murre
Designer: Andrei Kormashov
The exhibition includes more than 150 icons dating from the 15th to the 20th centuries. These range from ones that came from iconostases and were executed at high artistic level, as well as simpler provincial icons. There are traditional sacred images as well as a large number of unique and rare icons. According to Natalia Komashko, head researcher at Moscow’s Andrei Rublev Museum of Early Russian Art and Culture and a consultant for this exhibition, in the scientific sense, Nikolai Kormashov’s collection is one of the most comprehensive private collections that she has come across and Kormashov was one of the most serious collectors.
Coordinator: Aleksandra Murre
Designer: Andrei Kormashov
Exhibition curators: Orest Kormashov and Andrei Kormashov