Lot 180

Viktor Pivovarov (1937) UNTITLED

Viktor Pivovarov, a Russian artist who has lived and worked in Prague since 1982, is a true creator of unique worlds. These worlds spring from the mysticism of the past and from realms that remain hidden from the human eye at first glance. In his works, everyday objects are transformed into characters in often grotesque plays and performances. The artist seems to peer through a keyhole—in a manner akin to voyeurism—into the intimate corners of interiors of human lives. It is precisely here, among the ordinary furnishings of an apartment, such as a teapot or a mug, that he forms the ensemble of his pictorial scenes. Through irony, he subtly challenges established ways of seeing. An example is a work from 1983, created shortly after his arrival in Prague. The distorted bird’s-eye view of a rural farmhouse gives the impression that the scene has been set in motion by a sudden burst of creative energy. The work is signed В. Пивова́ров in the lower right corner.