Group Petersburg
Artistic group in Leningrad into 1960.
The prehistory of this group begins in 1964, from the exhibition in Hermitage Museum of five artists: V. Kravchenko, V. Uflyand, V. Ovchinnikov, M. Chemiakin and O. Liagatchev.
(official name of this exhibition - "Exhibition of the artist- workers of the economic part of the Hermitage. Towards the 200- anniversary of Hermitage")
Exhibition was opened 30-31 March of 1964 and on 1 April it was arrested by authorities. The director of the Hermitage M.I. Artamonov was taken from his post.
In 1967 it was written "Manifest the Peterburg Group", signed by M. Chemiakin, O.Liagatchev, E. Yesaulenko and V. Ivanov. Somewhat previously by V. Ivanov and M. Chemiakin are written theoretical essay " Métaphysique Synthétisme".
Group gave preference to still life, stylistic searches and illustration. M. Chemiakin in its painting realizes the ideas of the "Métaphysique Synthétisme". In the graph they created illustrations to the works E.T.A. Hoffman, to "Crime and Punishment" Fyodor M. Dostoevsky; it so works in the technology of the engraving painted by water color.
Since 1968 O. Liagatchev is fascinated by semiotic searches and manufactures his visual-ornamental style; characteristic for this style picturesque works as "Kafka", "Intimeniy XX", both - 1973 "Kompozitsiya - kanon", 1975.
To the group carry usually such artists as A. Vasiliev, the master of picturesque invoices and technical improvisations and V. Makarenko, miniature-painter and metaphysical painter.
In 1971 M. M. Chemiakin emigrates to France, it is later - in USA. O. Liagatchev and A. Vasiliev participate in the exhibitions of artists -nonkonformist in Community arts centre of Gaz and Community arts centre Nevskiy into 1974-75 .
In 1975 O. Liagatchev emigrates to France. Group did not have joint exhibitions and was decomposed in 1979.
To the ideas of this group at one time were close the painters A. Putilin and A. Gennadiev.
