The one and only Liashkevich: exhibition of the famous homeless artist opened in Gomel
More than 30 works by the homeless artist Valery Liashkevich can be seen these days at the Vashchanka Art Gallery in Gomel. Journalists from "Belka" visited the exhibition and found out why he disappeared from the city streets.
Almost every resident of Gomel knows him. For almost thirty years, Valery Liashkevich could be met in any weather on Kyivsky Descent or at the beginning of Sovetskaya Street. He didn't just sell his paintings; according to his own admission, he carried out an important mission — introducing passers-by to art.
Valery Liashkevich appeared on the city streets in 1996 when he returned here from St. Petersburg. In his native village of Cherepovtsy, near Gomel, no one was waiting for him anymore. His parents had died, and his brother lived in the house with his family. So the artist simply settled on the street: sometimes he spent the night at the train station, sometimes he slept on benches.
All this time, the street philosopher never stopped painting his unusual pictures, where intricate plots intertwined. And gradually he became a symbol of the city.
Valery Liashkevich was noticed and appreciated. In 2014, an exhibition of the homeless artist opened at the National Art Museum. At the same time, the ONT TV channel filmed a documentary about him, "Crossroads," which won international awards. It showed how talent can go against conventional norms and customs.
Valery says about himself that he graduated from the Bryansk Art College and went to conquer the northern capital of Russia. In St. Petersburg, the artist tried several times to enter the Ilya Repin Academy of Arts but did not succeed. Then he got a job as a janitor at the academy and lived there for some time in a utility room. When this became impossible, he decided to return to his homeland.
The authorities and concerned people tried to help Valery with housing. The National Art Museum bought several of his works. But he still returned to the streets.
On January 7, the artist turned 76. Now Valery lives in a rented apartment; he is helped by a young Gomel artist Anastasia Tolstaya with her husband and admirers of his work. Valery even got his own Instagram account, where you can follow his life and work.
Many concerned residents of Gomel, who had met the artist on the city streets and were impressed by his personality and work, came to the exhibition at the Vashchanka Art Gallery. However, the artist himself could not attend the opening — his health failed him.
"Valery has problems with his legs and heart. In December, when we were preparing the exhibition for opening, he was hospitalized and was in a serious condition. Thank God, everything worked out," Anastasia Tolstaya answered the question of the artist's admirers.
Because Valery Liashkevich does not have Belarusian citizenship, he has to pay large medical bills.
The artist continues to paint and sell his works. Now he is better settled in terms of daily life.
The exhibition "The one and only Liashkevich" can be seen at: Karpovicha Street, 4. By the way, some paintings will be available for purchase later.
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