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Memory of the Master

Nikolay Vasilyevich Mozhayev, the famous master, outstanding sculptor of Ukraine and Russia passed away. He was Honored Artist of Ukraine, the winner of the International M.A.Sholokhov Prize in literature and art.

At this sorrowful moment we involuntarily recall his monumental works, which left and leave no one indifferent.

His sculpture “Grigory and Aksinya”, a memorial sign "Eagle", horse compositions “To the Cossacks of the Upper Don”, “Oath”, and other works are known all over the country.

Nikolay Vasilyevich was born on May 22, 1928, in a small steppe village of Mozhayev, on the border with the Lugansk Region. In 1950, he graduated from the Lugansk State Art School (Department of Sculpture) to choose a hard way of the plastic chronicles of our history. He took part in numerous exhibitions and contests for the best work of monumental sculpture. He had eight personal exhibitions including those in Stanitsa Vyoshenskaya. His works were always distinguished by professional culture, knowledge of the topic, skill of execution and imaginative expressiveness.

The works full of strength and truth leaving a deep imprint in the memory were erected in the Rostov and Volgograd regions, in the Crimea and in Donbass.

The Cossack theme, dear to his heart, was marked by a number of brilliant horse compositions. Five excellent works by N.V.Mozhayev, which became symbols of the country of Sholokhov, are erected on the territory of the National M.A.Sholokhov Museum-Reserve.

Portraits of Sholokhov, the personages of his works were the focus of lots of ideas, feelings and will of Nikolay Vasilyevich to convey the uniqueness of human characters. No wonder he was the Sholokhov Prize winner.

The favourite materials of the artist were bronze, granite and cast iron. Overcoming the resistance of the material Nikolay Vasilyevich was able to display the soul of the hero and historical truth in each of his works.

N.V.Mozhayev, as an adherent of the realistic school, showed himself the great master of the modern monumental art. His works arouse pride in the residents of the Sholokhov country. “We thank him for his modesty in life and for his genuine artistry!” – the workers of the Museum-Reserve of M.A.Sholokhov and residents of Vyoshenskaya and of the Upper Don say at this sorrowful moment.

Alexey Kochetov