"On the Edge of the Earth"

Silent mountains of the polar Urals, cold waves of the White Sea, clear sky of Karelia ... Russia's unique landscapes can be admired in the Small Hall of the RGS Headquarters in St. Petersburg. Here the exhibition of watercolors by Alexander Saikov "At the End of the Earth" was open. The exposition presents 22 paintings.

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From the left to the right: artist A. Saikov, the director of the department of the Executive Directorate of the Headquarters of the Russian Geographical Society in St. Petersburg V.V. Senichkin. Photo courtesy of the St. Petersburg City Branch of the Soc

The artist Alexander Saikov depicts the harsh polar nature in the open-air in extreme conditions for creativity - among the snow, winds. . In order for visitors to see the marching routine of the master, the exhibition features a time-tested tent with which he travels. The painter tells that he first came to the north 10 years ago, and since then he fell ill with his incomprehensible beauty. «I had been trying to paint in the south, but some magical power pulls me to the north, despite the difficult conditions. I was talking to the locals, and they were telling me  they had been coming here to work for a couple of months and eventually remained for decades. All this is the magic of these places." 

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A. Saikov at work. Photos from the personal archive of the artist

The work of Saikov is distinguished also by a rare size for watercolors - a few meters. In the edition of the Russian Book of Records, the artist's application for the authorship of the largest painting, painted by such colors from nature. The record "White Sea. Carcass" and "Polar Urals, Congorge Gorge" are three meters long.

Personal exhibitions of Alexander were held in Austria, Iran, Latvia, Finland and China. For the artist it is especially important that now his paintings will be seen within the walls of the Russian Geographical Society. «I have been dreaming about this exhibition for a long time, and for me it is honorable that it opens in the Russian Geographical Society. I would like to become a member of this organization, to participate in the expeditions. We intersect with geographers, we are studying nature, each in his own way», - Alexander tells.  

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"August in the Polar Urals." Watercolor by A. Saikov

Opening hours: from 10 August to 10 September.

Working hours: from 11:00 to 19:00 seven days a week.

Place: the Headquarters of the Russian Geographical Society in St. Petersburg, lane. Grivtsova, 10A.

Free admission.