Manashir Yakubov
Musical critic, composer
Binyamin Shalumov is a man of unusual destiny. His art reflects the most important aspects of his character: his thirst for life, his spiritual wealth, his aspiration to discover, and his understanding of the world from every angle. He had turned to painting during the period of deep depression and severe life crisis. And the fact that this life-affirming, radiant, and festive painting helped him resurrect spiritually symbolizes the meaning of art in our lives. We need art, in part, because it will never betray us, because it is always with us.
Nobert Evdayev
Art critic, artist, editor-in-chief of New Frontier newspaper, New York
It's not easy to pick up a paintbrush at a ripe age and create mature and interesting works of art without any formal training of art schools. There is a way to explain this. At one point of his life, Binyamin Shalumov experienced a powerful compression of time. In a very short period, he's completed a coursework in painting technique and aesthetic maturation. The potential to do this was inside of him all along, of course, but it didn't awake until powerful changes occurred in his personal life. At this point, the period of his debut in the art world is over. There have numerous exhibitions in Russia and the U.S. Still, the unquenchable thirst of the artist is propelling him ahead in order to create new paintings. So what is the concept behind the artist's work? Shalumov doesn't force his vision onto the viewers but rather expresses his lyrical motif with eastern softness. Shalumov cuts out a particular fragment of nature and places it onto a canvas, giving pleasure to even the most unsophisticated eye. The line of his main drawing is alive and it takes the viewer into the mystery of the artist's intention. He sculpts the images lightly, unobtrusively, making them obey the logic of the canvas. Thick, vigorous, and radiant brushstrokes exude light that makes the paintings particularly expressive. The viewers perceive Shalumov's creative spark on every canvas. This allows him to develop internal posture and freedom to create, penetrating the essence of what he is seeing and depicting.
Leonid Tikhomirov
Distinguished artist of Russia
Art is a way of communicating (by means of language, sound or music and visual) the essence of things created by God. Throughout the millennia various forms of art and science tried to comprehend God's creations. This is an endless road that will continue long after we are gone. An artist is a person who can communicate the essence of things God has created and who is passionate about doing it. Binyamin possesses this passion. He is a gifted man of amazing purity and inherent talent. He has carried his talent through his entire life, preserving his spiritual purity. This is the main cause of his success in science and, now, in art. His paintings are filled with passion, which is a major accomplishment. Binyamin intrinsically understands the unique nature and color of God-created harmony.
|
