Monday came the sad news. Died Victor Chizhikov. Died favorite artist of our childhood. The one who was around all the time – even when we thought, not thought about. Yes, a lot do we the readers and viewers know about him?
Almost 70 years ago, in 1952, in the newspaper “Housing worker” were his first cartoon. Then there were the magazines “Crocodile”, “Murzilka”, “Fun” and quite serious – “Around the world”. And in 1980 appeared his – no, our course, our Olympic Bear. The one with a tear running down her cheek. The bear remained in the memory of the living, genuine and very kind, like all heroes, Chizhikova. He himself was the same, kind, open and very humble.
it is Hard to imagine how much work, sleepless nights and doubt hid all of his “fun”. Victor Alexandrovich compared their work with the work of the hermit. An artist sits in his office, doing in the company of the silent author, and painfully nascent hero and soul does not accept protests against the privacy. Never in his life had he refused to communicate with readers and viewers – if called, be sure to come to all meetings. Just over six months ago on the anniversary of the Russian state children’s library he’s more than an hour signing autographs. And then hiding in a secluded corner – long time came to himself. But how else? He could not refuse – those who looked at him with such adoring eyes.
What you need in order to become a good artist? Chizhikov just answered: “it is good to remember your childhood is necessary. I remember a lot, and I want to remember. Yet it is desirable to be kind. Because there are artists – this mean that you can’t scrape together good children’s book. But in it’s innate, it’s not going to teach anything. I teach math so was not able to”.
Ready spend hours talking about her military childhood and the amazing people that surrounded him. About the library in the basement of the house where he and his mother hid from the bombing. About the first drawings, which were painted in two years and who has miraculously preserved his father. About his acquaintance with the Kukryniksy, who managed to seek out talented Victor among the innumerable young talents.
Kukryniksy recalled: “In the early fifties on the threshold of our workshop came the young man with a large suitcase in hand. It was a ninth grade student Victor Chizhikov. He opened his suitcase, and we saw that it was stuffed full of caricatures…” They helped once to a young talent to enter the Moscow Polygraphic Institute. The story he later recalled in his memoir book, “Chizhikov. My stories. About the artists books. About yourself.”
He and about Bear recalled all the time. As came to light the Olympic symbol, famous all over the world. “I stood on the balcony and watched the sky was full ��of Omani, remembered how it hurt and stuff. And I thought, “I wish it was my Misha!” he remembered that night when the Commission was from hundreds of applicants to choose one. And the Commission was correct. Chose Chaikovskogo Bear – not like any one of thousands of other bears.
He left – but he’s still with us?
What is your hero you like the most?
Victor Chizhikov: Most beloved characters – Peter and the captain, because I made them up. The Japanese were asked to do illustrations for “an inch and the Roots” is a Russian folk tale. I did, they printed. Then the Japanese call me and say, “We printed, write and draw the sequel”. I said that we have not actually decided to write a continuation of Russian fairy tales. And then I decided: to avoid repetition, proposed that a new owner will act as the grandson of the bear and the grandson of the man. So there was Peter and the captain.
five years later, I at the request of the Japanese wrote the continuation and painted. The third book was called “Peter rescues Potap”. Get the trilogy: begins with Russian folk tales, but my ends already think it is too popular.
aren’t heroes, whom it was most difficult to draw?
Victor Chizhikov: snakes I don’t like to draw. They are beautiful, and I love to invent, we can invent any pattern, but I don’t like snakes. Although, of course, in the “Wizard of oz” I draw the wicked witch of Gingema with snakes, owls, fear-mongering different… But in General I love Chekhov.
was the book that you refused to illustrate?
Victor Chizhikov: of Course. Suppose the battle of 1812, Napoleon’s need to draw, to hell I need it? I’d rather have Peter and the sensual draw. The drama arises not necessarily on the battlefield. It can occur in the relationship between two dwarves, but still some. The dwarves are able to raise such a scandal myself somewhere under a tree stump in the woods! It’s more interesting to draw.
Prepared , ,
