Erik Bulatov

The artist
Galerie Gorky Basmadjian, Paris

Vienna, Albertina, Kunst im Untergrund, Nonkonformistische Künstler aus der Sowjetunion, 1999-2000, no.9

Exhibition catalogue Kunst im Untergrund, Nonkonformistische Künstler aus der Sowjetunion, Vienna: Albertina, 1999, p.25, no.9 illustrated

The sheet is covered in a light layer of surface dirt and there are spots of dirt in places. The sheet is attached to the mount along the top edge. Held in a simple black wooden frame behind glass. Unexamined out of frame.
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Since many of his iconic early works were too large to bring out of Russia, in 1980 Bulatov was inspired to produce a ‘pocket-sized’ series of his major pieces. These small-scale exact copies were intended to represent the original pieces until conditions changed and he was able to exhibit in the West. Rather than working sketches or studies, these can be seen as finished works from this important series intended for a Paris ‘exposition de poche’.

The oil version of Zhivu-vizhu was finished only in 1982, but one presumes the conception was complete by 1980 and Bulatov wanted this important piece to be included in the pocket series also.