Location: passage
between buildings
A new
project by the famous animal photographer Alexander Avalov launched within the
walls of the Darwin Museum. Visitors will see more than 30 bright and colorful
portraits of birds - the feathered inhabitants of the Moscow, Prague and
Yerevan zoos. Graceful pink flamingos, a majestic crowned crane, a peacock with
a luxurious emerald fan of feathers and many other exotic birds will decorate
the exhibition halls of the museum. Animal portraits are distinguished not only
by their bright individuality, but also by their large format: some photographs
reach the height of human growth. The exhibition will last until June 9.
A
professional of the highest level and a great optimist, Alexander Avalov is a
famous master of animal portraits. His works gained fame due to their
expressive character, soulful gaze, beauty and naturalness of each “model”, and
were exhibited in the best galleries of the country and at large foreign art
venues.
The photo
project “Exotic Birds” is dedicated to the 160th anniversary of the Moscow Zoo,
one of the oldest zoos in Europe, and draws attention to the problem of
preserving rare and endangered animal species. Many of the birds presented at
the exhibition belong to vulnerable species and are listed in the International
Red Book. Zoos around the world participate in programs for the conservation
and breeding of rare animals and play an important role in preserving their
biodiversity.
It’s
interesting that it was with birds that Alexander Avalov’s journey as an animal
photographer began. His photographic sketches of the life of seagulls on the
Caspian coast were first published in the newspaper “Baku Rabochiy,” and photo
essays about the protected birds of Transcaucasia were published by the
authoritative magazine “Sovietland.” However, it was in the feathered and
four-legged inhabitants of zoos that the photographer was able to discern the
“personality” of the animal and was inspired by the idea of expressing this
individuality through a portrait. I was able to achieve great success in
photography thanks to my unconditional talent, love for my work and, of course,
understanding of animals. For many years now, the photographer's main models
have been zoo pets.
At the
exhibition, professional photographic portraits of birds will be complemented
by birds in sculpture from the collection of the Darwin Museum, created by
famous Soviet animal artists, and the main working “tools” of a photographer –
cameras, film and accessories for developing photographs.
About the author:
Alexander
Avalov is a member of the Union of Journalists. He successfully exhibited his
works both in Russia and abroad. Abroad - in the regional museum of Cesky
Krumlov, Czech Budejovice, in one of the castles in the historical part of
Brno, Prague. His works are stored in the cities of the Czech Republic, the
Hasselblad Center in Gothenburg (Sweden), and the Louvre (France). A large
series of postal envelopes with images of animals from the Moscow Zoo has been
published.