The disease robbed him of hearing and sight. Even in total darkness, he continues to see and feel the beauty. Not being able to speak, tells the world about his love for him.
Ten of my fingers are my two eyes. They feel the image, the size, proportion, character – says the deaf-blind artist Alexander Silyanov. Rather, all it tells me is his wife Elena. Reading the questions on my lips, it with intricate touches of the hands and fingers of their husband puts him in the same way after receiving a response, passes it to me.
BEAUTY TO THE TOUCH
The master and his Margarita have been married for 40 years, and familiar longer.
Sasha was born in 1956 in Kamchatka in a family of a soldier, – says Elena. – When he was a year old, he lost his hearing and the family moved to Moscow. In ‘ 63 he, like I, began to study in a special school for deaf children. So 1st class is familiar, and got married almost immediately after high school.
Elena teaches history to students of Moscow special correctional boarding school №65 for deaf children. Alexander, since childhood I love to draw, graduated from the Industrial art school named. Kalinina in Moscow and received the profession of stonecutter and bones.
Vision began to deteriorate while still in school, but I hid it from my mom, “recalls the artist,” were afraid, that they are forbidden to draw. But sooner or later the truth always becomes known… After school I got the I group of disability, and then found out that I have a syndrome Usera. It is a genetic disease that is accompanied first by loss of hearing, and with age and gradual loss of vision. Until you couldn’t see completely, I remember the world in all its diversity, colour and beauty.
12 years ago the artist was totally blind. Now he had to learn a different world – not only silence, but darkness.
Painting didn’t want to part, constantly asked his wife that she told him the paint color, border pattern… It was deprived of independence, and, as a creative person, Alexander Silyanov decided new way to Express themselves – began to create sculptural works. The skills of the wood Carver and the stone, remaining in the memory, tactile sensation, even more developed imagination and neofuscelia memories were the main assistants in the new work. At the first opportunity Alexander Silyanov rushes to his Studio in the suburban house may from morning till night to smooth out the ledges, millimeter by millimeter carefully obestochivaete stone, model in clay… And all to the touch.
– Feel Sasha’s hands, offering me the wife of the sculptor, and he at his wife’s request that she me. I touch large, work-worn hands, to hard, like stone, fingertips and understand them, he really sees. With their help, out of the darkness into the light and turns shapeless stones or clay in the unique work, which then casts in bronze.
BORN OUT OF THE DARKNESS
Like deaf Beethoven, he remembered every single note and continued to write brilliant music and the deaf-blind sculptor Alexander Silyanov retrieves from memory the most memorable in the last, sighted, life images and brings them into their amazing sculptures.
The first work of the artist was “Youth”. The master admits: “It was a kind of test of strength. In the portrait of a young girl – features my daughter Natasha”. Slyly smiling girl with neatly tidied up in a perky ponytail hair really like a personification of my youth, I’d drop everything and run happily to play with the guys on the street. Daughter Natasha, by the way, no longer a teenager became a successful designer… with a degree in Economics, got married and I gave my parents a grandchild Gleb and Sofia.
– A portrait of my beloved guide dog Erika has become my second job, ” says Alexander Silyanov and droops.
The cause of sadness reveals to Elena:
– Irzhik left us in 2014. It was an amazing Labrador who understands the owner perfectly. Say, for dogs work guide dogs – an incredible load, so they only live 7-8 years. Irzhik was with us for nearly a decade. Sasha is scared heavily experienced the death of his beloved dog, which is immensely trusted and was free to travel. Together they could go anywhere – to the Park, to the reception to the doctors, to visit friends… We a lot of different dogs offered to guide dogs, but husband refuses, says that other dogs will not understand it as well as understand Irzhik.
– I have left inside is an oppressive emptiness – adds the sculptor. – I will always remember his friend. Glad that he managed to execute the portrait Erica while he was still alive. I could feel him, to touch the ears, muzzle, eyes and correct the modelling.
Two years ago Alexander Silyanov decided to “paint in bronze” portrait of the wife. He, of course, it would be easier if Lena gave an opportunity to the owner to see her. But his wife said, “If you love me, you will be able to mold me from memory”. Seven months later, the bust of his wife – beautiful and strong women was ready.
– You are so fabulous it seems to have done, of course – beloved wife all the same. But how he managed with such precision to sculpt a horse’s head? – asked Elena, that addresses the question to her husband.
The horse is a noble, strong, intelligent and graceful animal, ” says Alexander. – Since the childhood love horses. And my big dream is to ride a horse. Once tried – did not work to keep the balance. But many times I have seen horses, when I could see, and now stroke them, hug neck, the touch of their mane, remembering every curve. These touches helped me when I did the work “Wind in his hair”. My horse is eager to free the same way as I rush to the light from the darkness.
One of his creations, the artist says with feeling:
– “In search of happiness” is a story about a blind man. Hoping to find a better life, he boldly walked out of the house. His hands stretched forward, he goes to the touch, but sees everything. Behind him Hiking backpack and he is ready to atsagat many miles to find their happiness and their place among other people.
Sculpture “In search of happiness” is one of 12 works of the sculptor. Looking at them, it is hard to imagine that they created the blind man.
WILLPOWER AND STRENGTH OF SPIRIT
In 2013, Alexander Silyanov was adopted in Creative Union of artists of Russia. The exhibition of his works with great success in regions of the country. And at the end of may this year in the Gallery of arts Zurab Tsereteli was awarded the International award “Philanthropist” for outstanding achievements of invalids in culture and art. In the nomination “Sculpture” the first prize was awarded to Alexander Silyanov. At the same time a special prize for effective assistance to disabled persons and their public organizations was presented to the President of the Russian Academy of arts Zurab Tsereteli. Shortly before that he got acquainted with the works of his colleagues in the sculptural workshop of Alexander Silyanov called them author worthy of the title of honorary member of the Academy of fine arts. I hope it was not just words and blind Master will soon take its rightful place among the masters of the major centre of Russian artistic culture.
In addition to creative work Alexander Silyanov conducting extensive public work in 2005, he was elected a Director of the charity organization “usher Forum”, which to the extent possible, solves life’s problems people with the syndrome Usera and helping them gain new knowledge and experience in the field of rehabilitation.
People of amazing strength of spirit and will, Alexander A. was for their comrades in the society, a legend, a role model, after all, losing hearing and sight, he found the courage not to give up and find themselves in new and challenging circumstances.
