Gogolevsky Vakula and Cupid with arrows: A self-taught sculptor lives in an abandoned village in the Poltava region
Gogolevsky Vakula and Cupid with arrows: A self-taught sculptor lives in an abandoned village in the Poltava region

Video: Gogolevsky Vakula and Cupid with arrows: A self-taught sculptor lives in an abandoned village in the Poltava region

Video: Gogolevsky Vakula and Cupid with arrows: A self-taught sculptor lives in an abandoned village in the Poltava region
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Valery Ermakov is a self-taught sculptor from the Poltava region
Valery Ermakov is a self-taught sculptor from the Poltava region

The self-taught sculptor Valery Ermakov does not go to exhibitions and does not blog on the Internet. They do not write about him in the newspapers and do not lead excursions to his house. But in vain. Valery Ermakov lives in the village of Panasovka in the Mirgorod region, he turned his yard into a real open-air museum. Here is Gogol's Vakula, and the goddess Venus, and Cupid with arrows …

Valery Ermakov is a self-taught sculptor from the Poltava region
Valery Ermakov is a self-taught sculptor from the Poltava region

The village where Valery Ermakov lives is gradually dying. Today there are less than a hundred people left here, all pensioners have already crossed the 80-year mark. Valery moved here 11 years ago with his wife, before that they lived in Poltava. The wife died, and the man was left to live alone, to manage the household and be creative.

Valery Ermakov exhibits his sculptures right in the courtyard of the house
Valery Ermakov exhibits his sculptures right in the courtyard of the house

Living in Panasovka is not easy: bread is brought in once a week, firewood needs to be stored for the whole winter, something constantly breaks down and has to be repaired. Due to everyday worries, there is little time left for creativity. And Valery has more than enough plans, he burns with what he does.

Sculptural composition based on Gogol's stories
Sculptural composition based on Gogol's stories

Valery Ermakov does not have an art education: he studied everything himself, tried to go to free courses, but gave up, as he quickly got bored. He uses the magazine "Artist" as a teaching aid, and in the absence of models he subscribes to several men's magazines: he considers nude models only as models, one likes lips, the other - the neck, the third - the chest. The master sculpts the sculptures using a well-sharpened knife.

Men's magazines as a visual aid
Men's magazines as a visual aid
Sculpture of a mermaid
Sculpture of a mermaid

Valery Ermakov draws inspiration from ancient myths and from Gogol's creativity. His fellow villagers like his work, and he has practically no other viewers. Several times Valery went with sculptures to the traditional Sorochinskaya fair, but did not sell the work: he did not want to give for a pittance, but it was difficult to sell it dearly. Yes, and it is a pity for the master of the forces that he puts into his creations.

Sculpture by Valery Ermakov
Sculpture by Valery Ermakov
Open-air sculpture exhibition
Open-air sculpture exhibition

Valery did not dare to sell the sculptures, he wanted to donate them to the school and the church. So now is the time to create a new collection, the main thing is to have enough strength. Valery loves winter because there is more free time, and you can spend hours on end doing your favorite thing in the workshop.

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