The National Museum of Arts of Moldova mounted an exhibition of works by Sergey Chyokolov, the founder of artistic ceramics. Over 140 clay, tapestry and graphic works were displayed at a personal commemorative exhibition that can be visited until April 10. Art specialists consider this collection is complex and very important for arts and crafts, IPN reports.

Sergei Chyokolov was born in 1892 in Moscow in a noble family. In 1914, after he completed his studies, he married Bessarabian woman Sofi Cristi. The two World Wars profoundly marked his fate. He lost his property and family business and traveled through Europe for 12 years working a as driver, as many other nobles did. He fluently spoke six languages and this helped him study the artistic currents that emerged in France, Italy, Spain.

When he returned to Bessarabia, he laid emphasis on the studying of pottery. He travelled throgh villages to learn clay modeling techniques used by locals and laid the basis of the first school of decorative art in Moldova.

“Chyokolov is a leader of the ceramic school in Moldova. He had very good training. He graduated from Stroganov School where Constantin Korovin taught. He knew the greatest artists of that epoch, of the start of the 20th century. He travelled through Moldova together with Isfira Grecu, studying pottery. The exhibition shows how prolific the artist was for his epoch. He went through difficult patches in his life and was ill, but never gave up work,” said the Museum’s director Tudor Zbârnea.

In 1963, Sergey Chyokolov became seriously ill. The right side of his body was paralyzed and he could not speak. Nevertheless, he didn’t strop creating. In the opening of the exhibition, Doctor of Arts Tudor Stăvilă said the potter was neglected in the Soviet period.

The artist used engraving and modeling. White and colored engobes were his favorite painting method. The decorative painting covered with glaze emphasized the natural color of clay. He shaped primitive flowers or grapes on ceramics and was never fond of complex drawings. The image of the object in general was more important for him.

Sergey Chyokolov, by the example of his life, showed that creative force prevails over loneliness or disease. The artist died in January 1977.