Yuri Avvakumov - artist, curator, designer, architect
La Provincia (The Italian
Municipality)
September 29, 1999
It was a sunny morning in April when I first saw Anthony Suau’s set of black and white photos he had chosen for the exhibition. To say that I was upset is to say nothing. They were mainly of my poor country and I could easily have been one of the heroes in his images.
At the same time I immediately realized that this is very good art which reminds me of the mystery of classic painting with the use of light and shade to reach the depth of the images and the laws of composition. (Later Anthony told me that he had inadvertently studied the Barbizon school of painting.) I would call it critical realism by the name of historical period in literature and figurative painting in Russia in the middle of the last century.
Photography by Anthony Suau presents this strength of art where the artist is following up two main intentions: the tradition of classic art and criticism of society by means of this art.
My disturbance of being inside and outside the picture was so strong that in order to find spiritual equilibrium between art and life I decided to visit Lenin’s mausoleum where I’ve never been before. It didn’t help.
Nevertheless I wish Anthony to spend another decade in Eastern Europe in hope that art may recover the lost moral values.