Belarus-Born Artists in Parisian School It’S Become Fashionable to Investigate Our Past, Delving Into Family Genealogy to Fill Gaps in Our Personal History
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CULTURE The Minsk Times Thursday, June 26, 2014 9 Oleg Lukashevich and his Parisian meetings and travels Belarus-born artists in Parisian school It’s become fashionable to investigate our past, delving into family genealogy to fill gaps in our personal history. Famous TV host Oleg Lukashevich is interested not in his own roots but in those of Belarus-born painters who worked in the Parisian School, of France. After a decade of research, he has discovered a great deal and, two years ago, joined Alexander Alexeev in preparing a new documentary series, with an episode devoted to each artist. trends — includ- ing Post-Impres- sionism. The city Painted by Chaïm Soutine was a Mecca for painters, who experienced true free- fully. In 2011, I visited the Venice dom of expression. Festival, where Madonna presented What was life like for Belaru- her film ‘We Believe in Love’. I loved sian artists in Paris? the music (composed by Abel Kor- Only a few received recognition zhenevsky) and, on launching our during their lifetime: Chagall, Zad- project, realised that the melodies kine and Soutine. Soutine was ini- would suit our episodes on Chagall tially accused of being a ‘shoemaker’ and Soutine. Later, we learnt that rather than an ‘artist’ so, after he Madonna’s company owns the gained recognition — with his pic- rights, rather than the composer, tures selling for up to 22,000 Francs so we requested permission to use (from an initial 300), he chose to them. Madonna herself watched thumb his nose at sceptics. He rented the scenes for which the music was an expensive flat, bought a car and planned, and read about our series, wore fashionable clothes to prom- so that she could make an informed enade the Montparnasse. He would decision. We translated the text into pass the local Bohemians and pre- English for her and she approved the tend that he had no idea who they idea: we have her signature on the were. Recognition in your own life- agreement. time is important, although material wealth also matters; everyone needs to support a family. Most artists lived modestly but not poorly. Since these artists died long ago, how much truth is there in some of the stories associated with Painted by Marc Chagall them? I don’t agree that all the stories By Natalia Stepanova father and Michel Kikoïne and of our painters enjoy global recog- are ‘fantasy’. Soutine is the only artist you can discover a great deal nition but Ossip Lubitch could without any direct descendant. How- Oleg, few realise that the Pa- from diaries and letters. worthily rival them, having his ever, many people knew him and left risian School was an international You’ve shot nine epi- own distinct style. I think he’ll first hand recollections. Other paint- group of painters, which included sodes but many more Be- be studied more thoroughly in ers had children and grandchildren Picasso, Modigliani and hundreds larus-born painters are rep- future; it takes time to gain who well remember their talented of other talented painters of vari- resented within the Parisian recognition. grandfathers. Interestingly, most A character from the ous nationalities, who gathered in School… How did you learn that of our characters lived long lives: Belarus-Born Artists of the the French capital in the early 20th Yes, many more. Our origi- these artists lived in Chagall died at the age of 98 while School of Paris project: century. Belarusians tend only to nal list comprised twelve art- a single place at Lubitch was around 100 on passing. Nadezhda Khodosevich was a simple Belarusian girl from a re- know about Chagall and Soutine ists but we lacked enough the same time? Zarfin and Kikoïne died in the 1960- mote village. She moved to Smo- as Belarus-born artists. How have visual illustrative mate- They were all 70s, having enjoyed long lives; their lensk to study, where she saw a you collected information and rials for a full episode Jewish and, dur- relationships were multitudinous, so magazine featuring a painting by what obstacles have you faced? for some; several died ing the time of we have a great many recollections Leger. Nadezhda fell in love with The National Art Museum has young, leaving almost Imperial Russia, it from those who knew them. These are his artistry and decided that she also been researching this sphere no photos or documents. was easier for them now valuable documents: part of his- must become his pupil. Eventu- but it’s a challenge for them to travel This made it almost impos- to receive their tory. Our aim is to create enlightening ally, she succeeded — becoming not only his pupil but his wife! abroad to meet direct descendants sible to create a full-length education in Paris documentaries, using professional ac- After Léger’s death, she chose not and those who hold rights. We’ve episode; you need to show than in St. Peters- tors to deliver factual-based scripts. to spend his fortune but to set up conducted a major study of archives, more than their pictures burg or Moscow. How was Madonna involved in the Fernand Léger Museum, and to learn whether any direct descend- and actors can hardly Late 19th cen- your project? She was the first to presented hundreds of copies of ants of our artists live in Belarus portray an artiste of tury Paris watch your documentaries, wasn’t his masterpieces to the Belarusian or Russia. In fact, all are scattered whom we know so was full she? Art Museum in the 1960s, to share abroad. Zarfin’s daughter Liliane little (and who lacks of artists I believe that music is vital to any his legacy more widely. It was an incredibly generous decision. gave us a unique photo featuring her descendants). Just four Created by Ossip Zadkine and new film, so I chose our soundtrack care-.