3 May, Vitebsk /Olga Bogacheva - BELTA/. Works by a frontline artist are presented for Victory Day at an exhibition in Vitebsk, the Centre for Contemporary Art of the regional centre informed a BELTA correspondent. The exhibition, which opens today, includes over 50 graphic and painted works by Honoured Artist of the RSFSR Mikhail Rudakov. The main part of the works are graphic illustrations for novels about the war: "Theutenants' Road" by A. Bek, "Hot Snow" by Yu. Bondarev, and "Tanks Move in a Diamond Formation" by A. Ananyev. Works for the latter were rejected in 1983 by the State Committee for Publishing. A similar fate befell many other works by this author, whose difficult creative path was due to his repression in February 1943 after being a prisoner of war (rehabilitated and reinstated in 1957), as well as his overly innovative creative style for his time: the author worked in various stylistic directions from realism to abstraction and minimalism. The value of Rudakov's works has been confirmed by time. "He organised a colourful element, creating canvases that were passionate and dramatic. He knew how to make drawing and colour work in harmony. The colours in his works burn, interact, explode in powerful combinations or touch with the utmost delicacy. The canvases pulsate like living organisms. His exhibitions evoked enthusiasm from viewers. Even in the most difficult life situations, the artist retained the romanticism of his nature, knew how to rejoice and brought viewers joy with the thirst for life embedded in his paintings," said his contemporary, Honoured Artist of the RSFSR, laureate of the State Prize of the Russian Federation in Literature and Art, Illarion Golitsyn, characterising Rudakov's works. The exhibition is organised with the support of the artist's family, who provided works for the exhibition. It is noteworthy that exhibitions of Mikhail Rudakov's works are also being held in Moscow on the eve of Victory Day.-0-

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