These days it is not unusual to meet creative partnerships. Though, it is a phenomenon when a successful couple creates a productive partnership, not a competitive environment. Today we get to know this type of unique union of Yekaterina and Konstantin Grachevs.

       Yekaterina and Konstantin Grachevs are the artists from Saint-Petersburg, both graduated from the St.Petersburg State Academic Institute of Art, Sculpture and Architecture named after I.E. Repin. They have held a numerous exhibitions as inside as well as outside of the country and gained many awards in the world of art.

       While enjoying their works, I would not like to focus on the number of the exhibitions, grants and diplomas they have got, but on the fact that being in the same mental and physical space, these artists create different but totally harmonizing energies using a variety of themes and techniques.

       The delicacy and tenderness of Yekaterina’s works beautifully complement the power of color and shape Konstantin uses in his paintings. This could be compared to Yin and Yang if you wish.

       As a matter of fact this is a narration with a meaning hidden behind. Konstantin speaks loudly and persistently about memory, conflict of emotions and strength of spirit whereas Yekaterina speaks in a low voice about peace and beauty.

       Konstantin Grachev’s tryptich named “The stories about the war” doesn’t depict actions in the battle field, but renders memory. The memory of us today and the memory of every family. This triptych consists of paintings which can be referred to still life, though the deep meaning of each painting fascinates a viewer’s attention and takes him or her into a world full of pain, recollections, drama and infinite respect for our grandfathers’ deeds.

       Ordinary items and family relics such as water can, helmets, soldier’s belts, and soldier’s blouse become the main characters of the plot.  They are just lying on the surface or hanging on the wall but due to their simplicity and tragic glow of color, light and shadow, they turn into monuments – the monuments dedicated to the nation’s heroic deeds. It’s about the time when the sky was mixed with the earth and the days counted by the number of dead people and nights by the survived ones.

One can hear the sound of the sea from Yekaterina’s landscape paintings as the response to appeal for help to relieve the pain of a deep wound. The light sadness spills out from the windows, the head is bowed and the wounds start healing slowly. That is why it is so important what these two artists are telling us – the man and the woman.

         We should not forget about what happened and should value what we have now and dream about what will be when we are gone.

​

Information about artists:

       Yekaterina Gracheva was  born in 1975 in Saint-Petersburg (former Leningrad).  

Yekaterina graduated from N.K.Rerich St.Petersburg School of Arts in 1988 then St.Petersburg State Academic Institute of painting, sculpture and architecture named after I.Y Repin in 2006. She is currently a teacher at St.Ptersburg State Academic Institute of painting, sculpture and architecture named after I.Y.Repin. She actively participates in the local, republican and international exhibitions.

       Konstantin Grachev was born in 1978 in Nizhny Novgorod.

He graduated from the Nizhny Novgorod School of Arts in 1998. He graduated with honors from the I. Repin State Academic Institute of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture in St. Petersburg in 2004. He was awarded the Medal of the Russian Academy of Arts “For Academic Achievements” in 2003. He is also a grant owner of “The Muses of St. Petersburg 2004” in nomination of painting. Konstantin has been a member of the Union of Artists since 2006. He is currently a teacher at the Academy of Fine Arts, Painting Faculty. He actively participates in the local, republican and international exhibitions.