Nefedov Eryza Biography

Erzya S. Biography Stepan Dmitrievich Erzya was born on October 27 in the village of Baevo Alatyrsky district of the Simbirsk province in the family of a peasant. His real name Nefyodov, Eryzha, is a creative pseudonym, taken by the artist at the beginning of the creative path.

The pseudonym reflects the artist’s belonging to the ethnic group “Erzy” as part of the Mordovian peoples. The name of the sculptor Erzi is widely known both in our country and abroad. The formation of the unique artistic gift of Stepan Nefedov was based on everything that was originally inherent in the art of the ancient Mordovian people. The brilliant natural data of the young sculptor was developed at the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture in the workshop of Sergei Volnukhin and Pavel Trubetskoy GG, and then in various art studios and sculptural workshops of Europe, where the artist worked during the GG.

The most vivid works created during this period are the work of Toska, Prison Priest, Last Night, Stone Age, Martha in the year in Venice for the first time in the international art exhibition by the work “Last Night of the convict” and “Self -portrait”. The sculpture in international exhibitions in Milan and the Autumn Salon exhibition in Paris, the years spent in Italy and France, came to the participation of the young Erzi, which gives the full reason to consider it not only one of the most talented, but also professionally prepared Russian sculptors, is also successful.

One of the first in the Russian plastic of the twentieth century, Stepan Eryzha showed the dignity and beauty of a woman - representatives of the "small" people, creating images full of lyricism, deep and sincere sense of work "Erzyan woman", "head of the Mordovka". During this period of his work, the master stood in the way of revolutionary renewal of the art of sculpture, relying on the achievements of world art and folk art of the Erzyan people.

The circle of materials that eryza addressed during this period turned quite wide. This is marble, cement, cast iron, gypsum. In the early twenties, the search for more expressive means of execution led Stepan Erzu and to the "discovery" of a new material for him - a tree. For the first time, the sculptor uses in his work solid wood - Caucasian oak, Caucasian nut. The compositions "Leda and Swan", "Flying", "Maternity" made in the Caucasus are clearly demonstrated as the techniques of modernity, "tested" by the sculptor earlier - for example, in the works of "Rest", "Marble", form the basis of the formation of a new individual plastic style of Stepan Erzi.

The development of this style has been going on over the next two decades, which the sculptor spent in Argentina. Here he discovered materials with which he then did not part until the end of his life - the breed of subtropical trees of Kebracho, Algarrobo, Urundai. They conquered the artist with exotic beauty, textured wealth, density and firmness. This material has discovered before Eryzia the possibilities in choosing various topics and plots that later developed in a series of portraits of historical personalities, mythological, female, international and national images, as well as the work of the so -called psychological series.

One of the favorite materials becomes kebracho wood. Its expressive drawing, a wide range of shades, as well as the picturesque originality of the growths, from the very beginning determined the features of the manner of performing works. A special effect and artistry gave the sculptor the expressive contrast of an unprocessed growth with a carefully polished surface.

Stepan Erzya returned to the Soviet Union in the year. Despite his age, and the artist was already in seventy, he continued to work hard and hard in his Moscow workshop. For a long time, torn from his native land, he really wanted to show the new to him the Soviet viewer and creations made abroad, and work related to returning to his homeland. In the year, a collection of his works - sculptures made of wood, gypsum, bronze and marble with a total weight of tons was delivered to the Soviet Union.

And in the year, in the exhibition hall on the Kuznetsk bridge, his personal exhibition was held, which became a real event in the life of the capital. The sculptor-laborer died, who is sometimes called “Russian Rodin”, in December of the year at work in his workshop. He was buried in Saransk, and although his ashes are now forever connected with his native Mordovian land, his art, which does not know borders, belongs to all of humanity.

A worthy tribute to the memory of Stepan Dmitrievich Erzi is the Mordovian Republican Museum, which bears his name and has the largest work with a collection of his sculptures. Interesting facts: a large experimenter, Stepan Eryzha worked with various materials - gypsum, concrete, marble, cement, cast iron. But most of all, he was inspired by a tree, especially exotic breeds, such as Kebracho, Algarrobo, Urundai.

The artist’s favorite composers are Beethoven and Grieg.For almost a quarter of a century, the sculptor lived in Argentina, remaining a citizen of the USSR and returning to his homeland only in the year. In the year, the sculptor was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor in connection with the flight from the day of birth and for many years of activity in the field of fine art.

On the grave of the sculptor in Saransk, the tombstone of the work of S. Related objects is installed.