Ry Nikonova

Ry Nikonova (Russian: Ры Никонова; real name Anna Aleksandrovna Tarshis Russian: Анна Александровна Таршис; 25 June 1942 – 10 March 2014), also known as Rea Nikonova, was a Russian artist, poet, writer.[1] Many of her artworks are in private and public collections throughout the world.

Ry Nikonova
Born
Anna Aleksandrovna Tarshis

(1942-06-25)25 June 1942
Yeysk, Russia
Died10 March 2014(2014-03-10) (aged 71)
Kiel, Germany
Resting placeLeslie, Scotland
56.202867°N 3.222442°W / 56.202867; -3.222442
NationalityRussian
Known forPainting, drawing, poetry, writing, sound poetry, visual poetry, book art
MovementTransfurism, Mail art, abstract art
Spouse(s)Serge Segay (1947-2014)
AwardsAndrei Bely Prize

She was a main theoretical thinker behind Transfurism movement[2][3] as well as a prominent figure in Mail art history. Her literary and visual works were published in Russia, Spain, US, and other countries. She was an editor of samizdat magazines Transponans and Double. She founded "Uktuss School" art movement in Yekaterinburg, Russia.

Biography

Early life

She was born in Yeysk, Russia on 25 June 1942. Yeysk during that time was occupied by Nazi Germany. She was born into a very artistic family, where playing piano, singing and composing verses was normal after-work entertainment.

Education

She graduated from Yekaterinburg Music College in 1961, then entered Saint Petersburg State Theatre Arts Academy in 1965. She was expelled in 1967, because her paintings were non-conformant to the communist standards of that day.

Marriage

She married Serge Segay in 1966. Their families were tied by friendship forged during exile years - both Serge Segay's grandmother and Ry Nikonova's grandcousin were exiled together to Kazakhstan by Stalin. Introduced by their parents, they got close via discussing each other's artwork.

Uktuss School (Yekaterinburg)

She founded "Uktuss School" art movement in Yekaterinburg, Russia. They were creating abstract art and experimented with avant-garde poetry and writing. She also found samizdat journal "Nomer". May artworks from that era now are in possession of Russian collector Vadim Yegorov. In 1971 she creates first visual poems. Then she creates first vacuum poems, and first poems in form of tables.

Transfurism (Yeysk, Saint-Petersburg)
Ry Nikonova mail art to John Held Jr., 1988.

In 1974, she moves to Yeysk with her husband. They start publishing samizdat journal Transponans in 1979, in 5 copies.[2] They entertain numerous guests from both Russian capitals, creating art and poetry in collaboration. Their Yeysk abode becomes the cultural centre for Russian art and literature underground. They also make performances in Saint-Petersburg, Tambov, Kiev, Moscow during these years. She becomes a key thinker in experimental, avant-garde literature - in 1976 she starts creating artist books (book-halves, spiral books), in 1978 - first vector poems. A lot of people saw her "gesture poems" during performances in Berlin, Budapest.

Her drawings and paintings during this period are much softer than Serge Segay's, with smooth lines and not many sharp edges. Yet they feel blue, sometimes reflecting "no-escape" reality of living in USSR, e.g. famous "Life in a Jar" series of drawings.

In 1991, she starts publishing another samizdat journal, "Double".

Mail art

Ry Nikonova joins Mail art movement in 1985. In 1989, she organized "Scarecrow" mail art exhibition in Yeysk, Russia. She corresponds with numerous artists around the world, including Robin Crozier, John M. Bennett, Guy Bleus, Shozo Shimamoto and others. She also participates in many Mail art projects.

Late period (Kiel)

She emigrated to Germany together with her husband in 1998. Initial efforts of integration were thwarted by diagnosis of cancer, which she subsequently fought for 10 years. She participated in Mail art projects, created visual poetry, sound poetry and a few paintings. Most importantly, she continued work on her yet unpublished theoretical tome "The System", which purpose is to enumerate all imaginable styles and approaches to art.

Death

She died on 10 March 2014 in Kiel, Germany.[4]

Exhibitions
  • Mail Art: The Artists from 25 Countries, Yeysk Art School, Yeysk, Russia (1989)
  • First International Exhibition of Concrete Poetry in the USSR, Yeysk State Museum of History and Local Lore, Yeysk, Russia (1990)

Notes

    References and sources
    References
    1. Kostelanetz, Richard, ed. (2000). "Nikonova, Rea". Dictionary of the Avant-Gardes. Schirmer Books. ISBN 978-90-6143-293-7.
    2. Кукуй, Илья (2006). "Лаборатория Авангарда: журнал Транспонанс". Russian Literature. Elsevier B.V. LIX-II/III/IV: 225–259. ISSN 0304-3479.
    3. Кукуй, Илья (2009), "Маня Фест: идеологемы трансфуризма", in Грубачич, Слободан (ed.), Авангард и Идеология: Русские Примеры, Филологический факультет Белградского университета, pp. 273–279, ISBN 978-86-86419-65-1
    4. Sigov, August. "Ry Nikonova".
    Sources
    • Chuck Welch (Ed.), Eternal Network: A Mail Art Anthology Calgary: University of Calgary Press, 1995. ISBN 1-895176-27-1.
    • John Held Jr., Mail Art: An Annotated Bibliography, Metuchen 1991
    • Géza Perneczky, The Magazine Network: The Trends of Alternative Art in the Light of Their Periodicals 1968–1988, Köln 1993
    • Bibliography of transfurists
    • Gallery of Ry Nikonova's paintings
    • Gallery of Ry Nikonova's artist books and samizdat publications
    • Work and information on Rea Nikonova on IUOMA
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